My kids are playing with a cheap $5 plastic bowling set. Zen is sleeping. Where I am sitting I have the perfect view of their game. It is loud and wonderful. They are playing nicely; not something that happens all the time. I can’t take my eyes off them and honestly writing one line of this post takes more than 10 minutes because the kids are fascinating to watch. I can’t help but look at them and see them as…kids.
So many times I look at them, especially the older 2, and I see my expectations of what they should be able to do. I forget they still need to climb and run and play.
Earlier I was watching a video on a blog and it said “Though she grows, she is still so small.” That simple phrase grabbed me.
It speaks volumes to me. She is not suggesting her child is small for her age. She is stating that the age of 2 is still little. It is so true. Step back and look at your child with some perspective. How did you used to see a 2 year old before you had one? I am guessing you regarded them as a baby still. Your expectations probably weren’t grand. You didn’t expect them to know their colors and write their name. They are still so little. Yet as soon as we have our own we force them to grow too fast. I am not saying do not allow your child to develop and discover. I am saying just let them be little. Follow their cues. Let them be curious and discover at their own pace. Keep it age appropriate.
I forced my oldest to grow up too fast. My expectations changed with my second. can never change that fact I expected more from my eldest child than I did from my students who were older than him. I was never mean or forceful, I was just always ready to start the next thing with him and didn’t allow either of of us to savor the moments. Perspective and hind sight…..
With each child my expectations change. They are only little for a small glimmer of time and those days can be exhaustively long. I know this too well. I will, however, let my kids be little for as long as they need to be.
*written 3 years ago and rediscovered today 11/7/2016.
~Andrea
3 is not too old to be rocked to sleep. Savoring the moments.
Letting her make the pizza dough. Her joy is worth it all.
Letting her conquer her fears at her own pace makes the success that much sweeter.
As they get older they can still play….even if it makes your heart beat harder in fear.
Imagine, measure, cut, paint, create…..Making wands.
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