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current parenting failures
Feb. 28th, 2006 01:37 pmBrought to mind by an email just received from mr. flea.
Subject line: help help help.
Contents: I am earwormed with the Dragon Tales theme song!
I also was so earwormed, between about 11:30 and 1 last night, which kept me from sleeping (in conjunction with a headache and racing thoughts about work). Herewith the failures:
1. Too much TV. We watch nearly every day now. Casper asks first thing upon waking up, "Can I watch some PBS Kids?" and it generally occurs to her within 10 minutes of our arrival at home in the afternoons. I don't believe television is the root of all evil, but I don't happen to find the shows that are on during my viewing window (Clifford, Arthur, and Dragon Tales) either very good or particularly age-appropriate. Arthur in particular has a strong gender bias - all the female characters are pains in the ass, especially his sister DW. I also don't think a two year old should be watching TV every day. But then, she can't read the New Yorker - how else is she to unwind after a long hard day at school? And TV makes the parents' life much easier, short term - it allows for a simple breakfast and dressing process in the ams, as opposed to a tear-stained and defiant one, and allows the cooking of dinner in the pms (or the surfing of the internet, whichever is more appealing at the time.)
2. Chocolate milk. This started out as a treat, one time. Now she won't drink plain milk. Good grief. But then, I am the parent who eats an entire box of Thin Mints in one day, so who am I to judge?
3. Discipline problems. The kid won't listen, and when we punish it's not at all clear that we are making any impression at all, that a lesson has been learned. This wouldn't bug me so much - it seems really pretty developmentally normal, from what I know - except I see the cooperation and obedience at day care, and wish I could get the same results. (I should note that the kid is really easy-going, compared to the average 2.5 year old of my acquaintance. There's no tantrum-y monster here, or very rarely, anyway. But the complete lack of listening is galling.)
Clearly, the parents need to instil some discipline in themselves. Sigh.
Subject line: help help help.
Contents: I am earwormed with the Dragon Tales theme song!
I also was so earwormed, between about 11:30 and 1 last night, which kept me from sleeping (in conjunction with a headache and racing thoughts about work). Herewith the failures:
1. Too much TV. We watch nearly every day now. Casper asks first thing upon waking up, "Can I watch some PBS Kids?" and it generally occurs to her within 10 minutes of our arrival at home in the afternoons. I don't believe television is the root of all evil, but I don't happen to find the shows that are on during my viewing window (Clifford, Arthur, and Dragon Tales) either very good or particularly age-appropriate. Arthur in particular has a strong gender bias - all the female characters are pains in the ass, especially his sister DW. I also don't think a two year old should be watching TV every day. But then, she can't read the New Yorker - how else is she to unwind after a long hard day at school? And TV makes the parents' life much easier, short term - it allows for a simple breakfast and dressing process in the ams, as opposed to a tear-stained and defiant one, and allows the cooking of dinner in the pms (or the surfing of the internet, whichever is more appealing at the time.)
2. Chocolate milk. This started out as a treat, one time. Now she won't drink plain milk. Good grief. But then, I am the parent who eats an entire box of Thin Mints in one day, so who am I to judge?
3. Discipline problems. The kid won't listen, and when we punish it's not at all clear that we are making any impression at all, that a lesson has been learned. This wouldn't bug me so much - it seems really pretty developmentally normal, from what I know - except I see the cooperation and obedience at day care, and wish I could get the same results. (I should note that the kid is really easy-going, compared to the average 2.5 year old of my acquaintance. There's no tantrum-y monster here, or very rarely, anyway. But the complete lack of listening is galling.)
Clearly, the parents need to instil some discipline in themselves. Sigh.
