Parenting..... this is an experience that you can't ever really prepare for. All the babysitting in the world can not prepare you for the sleepless nights, the crying fits, the temper tantrums, the snuggles, kisses, night terrors, and so many other things I haven't even touched on. I believe that there was a time in our society where we really learned from each other, mothers would get together and sew, quilt, bake or do some kind of activity while their children played, fought and learned to get along. Moms got to learn from each other, as well as their elders and the kids were sufficiently socialized to later be let loosed on the society of the times.
Today we all seem to be working so much that no-one has enough time to get together with the kids much less with each other to do anything that could be seen as stress relieving, or as learning! We feel like we have to do it all on our own. There was a saying at one time "It takes a village to raise a child" My best girlfriend once said this to me, then looked up and said "I consider you part of my village!" From there on we have been able to talk to each other a bit more openly and we have been able to correct each others children when out and about or just around. You see, if my child is doing something that is wrong, hurtful, or dangerous, I am hoping that if I don't see it directly that someone may point it out to me so|I am able to teach them why it is wrong etc. I also hope that other adults would take it upon themselves to do the same, in a constructive manner of course. Seeing my 11 year old climb to the top of a play structure and proceed to climb over the top could be dangerous, someone else suggesting to him that it may not be in his best interest to proceed with, or pointing out that we don't want smaller children to learn this would be an expectation of mine. Or someone asking if that was my kid who was about to fall off the top of the structure would also be another expectation. But this is not the current accepted behaviour of our society these days.
Actually today it seems like we prefer to judge and whisper about each other than try to be of any assistance. Or we are too embarrassed to admit that we have run out of ideas as to what to do next when we are frustrated. We really don't understand teamwork as a society, but boy can we pull the carpet out from under each other.
I find it interesting how as we have moved into our nuclear family units we have disconnected our selves even more from each other. Now we have even more separating us from each other as we find ourselves not needing any real contact from others with all the technology which keeps "connected" to each other. This technology I think is very deceiving, as we think we are connected, to only find ourselves really secluded in our lives.
Today it is interesting to find out that children are out on the play structures at school and they are all doing their own thing. No one knows how to play TOGETHER. At some schools the teachers are actually having to teach the kids how to play games like hopscotch and 4 square. I wonder where this may lead in the future as we watch our kids grow up. Currently I recognize my role as the mom to help my kids see that other people matter, they need to look around and see where they can help out, where they can be the friend to another, where they can be the village.
Tomorrow is a new day and I get excited as I get to go out and into my community and see it as MY village. In my village I will have the chance to be the person who will help out, be the friend someone needs, or just be where God puts me. If I want the village to exist I will have to make it my own. hmmmmmm, Welcome to my world!
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