We just knew we were more or less comfortable. Things and people made us feel happy, excited, bored, afraid, full, warm, and many other things. We start by feeling and sensing our way around things. After all that’s how all of us began learning. Let’s start with nonverbal communication. I have to remember I’m an old hat at this but together we are taking baby steps in learning to parent. I started to write about knowledge being power but realized that before we could talk about it, we needed to talk about communication first. They still will hit you with, “Why didn’t you tell me?”īut you’ll be able to say, “I didn’t know” Start talking early, and don’t stop except to listen. Then they enjoy being in on the secret! But no bully on the play ground shattered their dreams or made them question if their mother told the truth. They didn’t feel deceived.īy that time they had learned the little secrets we keep so we can surprise those we love. So we put out carrots for the reindeer and cookies for Santa. But I still believed in the “traditions” of Christmas. I also got stronger in my belief in telling the truth. But I tried to answer direct questions pretty directly. My 24 year old just told me that she believed in Santa but thought it was clever that I told her Santa bills each parent as to what they can afford. I don’t believe in toying with little minds. Especially as at the time it was important to me that they believed in an invisible Jesus. I didn’t want them excited or have their hopes up and then disappoint them with the truth. I didn’t want to tell my children that Santa, the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny were real. I did have to do some convincing to my husband. And there are things you believe but don’t know and you have to tell them that. They need to trust that you tell them the truth as you know it. And it’s usually nice to give the other side of what you may have opinions on, so they are prepared for that too.ĭo you want their first introduction to the other side of things to be coming from the other side? We need to share our mistakes so that hopefully our kids make new mistakes! This idea we have to hide our stupid pasts doesn’t make sense to me. Warn them, people.Īnything you did stupid and wish you’d never done. Start with things like polite people don’t pick their nose and kids will tease you if you do. I want you to tell your children all the secret knowledge you know. Made it a little easier to explain how some people, who momma thinks were unloved, find sexual excitement by having someone urinate on them. I have to say I’m glad I hadn’t waited until 11 years old to explain the birds and the bees. “Son, do you know what a golden shower is?” Gah! Not something you want to hear your 11 year old singing! I asked, Adam was joking about a Peeping Tom and mentions how much he wanted a golden shower. I listened to a song my son was singing that he had heard on the CD. When my son was around 11 years old, he was a fan of Adam Sandler, who I thought was pretty tame. I’ve been accused of starting too early talking about certain things but I really think that if you are going to err, err on the side of more talking! I decided when I did, that my children would never be the butt of a joke they didn’t understand. Very soon some older girls started calling me “Fawn Kotex”. When I went to Girl Scout camp at 9 years old we all made up nicknames. I mean, knowledge is a large word that contains everything there is to know!Īnd that’s what you need to share with your children. Much too lazy for that!īut truthfully, I kept pondering what I really wanted to say. I’d much rather tell y’all this in a video blog, but that means I’d have to put on a face. I’m as lazy as the next guy, and do dread the act of actually putting it down on paper. Why has it been so hard to start? Well, that’s an age old problem I have no answer for. Hopefully, individual posts are helpful but I’d like to think it’s read as a whole.
JUMPSTART KINDERGARTEN WHY DID THE BUS STOP BOO BOO BUNNY MANUAL
If you are here for the first time you may want to start with this post,, because this IS a manual and I’ve been trying to write it in a linear way. I’ve been procrastinating writing this chapter.