What should a preschooler know?

I found this on the Internet this morning. It sort of "hit the nail on the head" as far as how I feel about this subject. I have many inner-confllicts between teacher and mommy. I am the first to turn everyday moments into teachable moments, such as counting cheerios, stairs, lights, cars, etc. or naming shapes and colors outside. But, I try to make it fun for Gavin! I had to scold myself the first day I gave Gavin crayons because he wanted to throw them and stack them rather than imitate my drawings. I found myself getting upset and had to remind myself that he was a 16 mo. old boy, and Clint's boy at that. :-) He may never be interested in being the next Picasso or Bob Ross, but that's okay! It's when he doesn't want to become the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady that we might have issues! hee hee

"I was on a parenting bulletin board recently and read a post by a mother who was worried that her 4 1/2 year old did not know enough. "What should a 4 year old know?" she asked.
Most of the answers left me not only saddened but pretty soundly annoyed. One mom posted a laundry list of all of the things her son knew. Counting to 100, planets, how to write his first and last name, and on and on. Others chimed in with how much more their children already knew, some who were only 3. A few posted URL's to lists of what each age should know. The fewest yet said that each child develops at his own pace and not to worry. It bothered me greatly to see these mothers responding to a worried mom by adding to her concern, with lists of all the things their children could do that hers couldn't. We are such a competitive culture that even our preschoolers have become trophies and bragging rights.

Childhood shouldn't be a race.

So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know.
1. She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.

2. He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn't feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.

3. She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.

4. He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he'll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.

5. She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she's wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvelous. She should know that it's just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that-- way more worthy.

But more important, here's what parents need to know.
1. That every child learns to walk, talk, read and do algebra at his own pace and that it will have no bearing on how well he walks, talks, reads or does algebra.

2. That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but mom or dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.

3. That being the smartest or most accomplished kid in class has never had any bearing on being the happiest. We are so caught up in trying to give our children "advantages" that we're giving them lives as multi-tasked and stressful as ours. One of the biggest advantages we can give our children is a simple, carefree childhood.

4. That our children deserve to be surrounded by books, nature, art supplies and the freedom to explore them. Most of us could get rid of 90% of our children's toys and they wouldn't be missed, but some things are important-- building toys like legos and blocks, creative toys like all types of art materials (good stuff), musical instruments (real ones and multicultural ones), dress up clothes and books, books, books. (Incidentally, much of this can be picked up quite cheaply at thrift shops.) They need to have the freedom to explore with these things too-- to play with scoops of dried beans in the high chair (supervised, of course), to knead bread and make messes, to use paint and play dough and glitter at the kitchen table while we make supper even though it gets everywhere, to have a spot in the yard where it's absolutely fine to dig up all the grass and make a mud pit.

5. That our children need more of us. We have become so good at saying that we need to take care of ourselves that some of us have used it as an excuse to have the rest of the world take care of our kids. Yes, we all need undisturbed baths, time with friends, sanity breaks and an occasional life outside of parenthood. But we live in a time when parenting magazines recommend trying to commit to 10 minutes a day with each child and scheduling one Saturday a month as family day. That's not okay! Our children don't need Nintendos, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US.

They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they're a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them. "

Where Are You Spring?

Well, it's been a long week and we still have 1 1/2 days to go! The boys caught colds over the weekend and have been miserable for several days. I wouldn't dare be caught without a kleenex right now! Gavin is on "snot" duty. He loves to say that word so he brings me a kleenex and says "snot" any time he sees a glimmer of it on Gunner or himself. Our house is filled with the aroma of menthal, from the pediacare plug-ins, to the Vicks kleenex, to the Vicks baby ointment. It seems to help clear them up but does not make it go away. Gunner is also officially getting his bottom left tooth. The tooth we thought was coming in crooked is apparently not a tooth at all. (can't remember the scientific name for it) Gunner is also uttering a few "da das" here and there. I thought I caught him saying it the other day and tried hard to coax him into saying "ma ma", but to no avail. Daddy then him heard him say it last night.

Ashley Finally Gets Hitched!

My best friend from high school, Ashley Harrison, was married at the Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica on March 22 to Josh Koster (Astoria, IL area). Unfortunately, Clint and I were not able to attend the destination wedding. Ashley was then married again on March 29 at the Summum Christian Church in Summum, IL, with a reception following at the Macomb Country Club. Both ceremonies were beautiful and I was honored to stand by her side as her matron of honor for the church ceremony. Ashley has moved back from the lake and the two will reside in Pleasant Plains, IL. I look forward to our families spending more time together!

The hair (after the reception)! Very intricate work, Susan!

My little man all dressed up for the special occasion! Easter outfits got double duty this year!

The stunning bride!

Our reception entrance attire!

BFF!

The Toast:

If you had asked me prior to Memorial Day Weekend of this past year if I believed in love at first sight, my answer would have been "no". After all, my husband and I knew each other for quite some time before we fell in love. But, a couple of days after that weekend, I got a call from Ashley telling me she had falled in love and found the man she was going to marry...pretty close to love at first sight! When I hung up the phone after that conversation, I didn't know how Josh and Ashley's story would end, but at that time, I wasn't convinced it would end at the alter. But, with each conversation that Ashley and I had in the months that followed, she seemed to be falling more and more in love with Josh, and quite honestly, from her descriptions the more and more in love I was falling with Josh. I finally got to meet "McDreamy" here when they came to visit in August, and I was able to witness for myself just how wonderful of a man Josh was and how happy they were as a couple. The love and friendship that these two share is very hard to find, and they have most certainly made me a true believer in love at first sight. Josh, you definitley have your hands full with Ashley but you are an extremely lucky man! I just ask that you take the very best care of my best friend!

Happy Easter!

The Hairy Elephant!

Gavin was in dire need of a haircut as mommy and daddy were planning to grow it out. We just didn't quite know what to do with the bangs that were hanging in his eyes and undoubtedly blurring his vision. Mommy and Mimi made an appointment for Gavin at a children's salon called The Hairy Elephant. The kids get to choose a vehicle to sit in and get to watch DVD's while getting their haircut. I first asked the stylist to trim his bangs but keep the rest of his hair long. I specificall said, "no bowl cut!" Gavin was the perfect little guy and played with his car and watched tv. When the stylist was done, she asked how I liked it and I said there was something about it that just wasn't doing it for me. I guess it was b/c I'm used to layers and he looked rediculous without them. I asked her to basically give him another cut and it turned out great! Gavin is such a handsome little man! His little brother was an angel waiting on his brother, too!

Pre-cut...a little shaggy! But still cute!

"Look, mom, I can see!"

Gavin was in heaven with all the shoes!

Gunner wanted in on a little train action, too!

Happy Birthday Mimi and Gabe!

We love you bunches and bunches!

Good-bye Winter Blues

We FINALLY had some spring-like weather here in MO. We spent as much time outside as possible. We took several stroller rides, Gunner played in his exersaucer, and Gavin played with three golf balls. Yes, he had to have all three all the time or he was upset. He enjoyed throwing them all at mommy and watching me run after them as they bounced down the driveway. This is a game that he and daddy play, but daddy is a little quicker at getting to them! One of the most exciting things was Gavin's first trip to the park! He really enjoyed going down the little slide by himself and playing with the rocks.

The Boys

Gavin has been very intrigued by the Figi water bottle. He thinks it is very cool that it is square shaped. I didn't think he would really notice the different shape, but I was wrong! He took the bottle over to his shape sorter and tried to put it in the square slot. It was very cute and made me very proud!