Sunday, April 10, 2011

Mommy peer pressure and the Evil Elmo!

Things in our home are calming down so I thought I would just share some fun thoughts today.

In my different circles of friends and with my in-laws I think everyone assumes I'm this crazy laissez-faire mom. Than we meet for play dates and suddenly I'm the crazy strict mom. Our kid's snacks are apples and grapes... everyone else is munching on horrible things like Goldfish and Animal Crackers (seriously I know those things are not horrible BUT if I can have my kids eat something better and they love it I prefer to do it that way). In public I'm the one barking "no", "don't", "stop that", etc. ruining my kid's fun while the other moms are commenting on how cute their kids are doing the same things I don't allow. One friend jokingly asked me the other day if I was going to keep Callum and Rachel rear-facing until they were old enough to drive (yes, I still rear face them). Call it peer pressure but I feel like such a prude.

The funniest is kid's TV. I was so addicted as a child. I felt like I missed out on a lot. All of my friends told me when I was pregnant I would cave. They tell me I was nuts for not doing any TV the first few years hardly (I was called on one occasion a Mommy Martyr and on another a Nanny Torturer). Even though it has been hard I've always tried to keep it off and steer Harmon towards interactive play and I think it has helped him with his Sensory Integration a lot.

Harmon is three though and so I thought it was time I started incorporating maybe 15 or 30 minutes a few times a week so he wouldn't feel culturally deprived. At first it went great and it was such a nice break for me to have a few minutes in peace to read the newspaper in the morning every few days. But than quickly started DEMANDING his TV. So we had to stop. No more Curious George or Sesame Street. It had become Harm's crack habit. So we have a new method now. He earns his "video time" and we only have one video. His beloved Thomas. I like it b/c it has very low key with graphics and sounds. Less addicting. I even ordered a 2nd video if it gets boring for him. I'm always teased by my close friends especially.


I do still try to be a fun mom. I let the kids eat Happy Meals (granted they get apples and chocolate milk instead of fries and a soda). I bring fun snacks for church and the kids always get a small little dessert each night after dinner if they eat their good things first. We always have great activities planned for them; and we are working with Harmon to earn toys and activities he really wants (the toddlers are still in spoiling range).

I dunno though. I suspect one day my kids are going to think I'm a bit of a stick in the mud... oh well such is life ;) I can live with that... I just need to learn to not let all my friends teasing bug me. They can do what they want for their kids but for mine... that is why they are mine!

1 comment:

  1. I applaud you, Francisca - it's really OK if your choice is healthy food and activities! My kids didn't know what gum was until they started school; Brei played soccer only because it meant she would get a soda on game days; and I firmly believe you can't spoil a child under the age of two! Oh, I think we do think a lot alike!

    ReplyDelete

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Mommy peer pressure and the Evil Elmo!

Things in our home are calming down so I thought I would just share some fun thoughts today.

In my different circles of friends and with my in-laws I think everyone assumes I'm this crazy laissez-faire mom. Than we meet for play dates and suddenly I'm the crazy strict mom. Our kid's snacks are apples and grapes... everyone else is munching on horrible things like Goldfish and Animal Crackers (seriously I know those things are not horrible BUT if I can have my kids eat something better and they love it I prefer to do it that way). In public I'm the one barking "no", "don't", "stop that", etc. ruining my kid's fun while the other moms are commenting on how cute their kids are doing the same things I don't allow. One friend jokingly asked me the other day if I was going to keep Callum and Rachel rear-facing until they were old enough to drive (yes, I still rear face them). Call it peer pressure but I feel like such a prude.

The funniest is kid's TV. I was so addicted as a child. I felt like I missed out on a lot. All of my friends told me when I was pregnant I would cave. They tell me I was nuts for not doing any TV the first few years hardly (I was called on one occasion a Mommy Martyr and on another a Nanny Torturer). Even though it has been hard I've always tried to keep it off and steer Harmon towards interactive play and I think it has helped him with his Sensory Integration a lot.

Harmon is three though and so I thought it was time I started incorporating maybe 15 or 30 minutes a few times a week so he wouldn't feel culturally deprived. At first it went great and it was such a nice break for me to have a few minutes in peace to read the newspaper in the morning every few days. But than quickly started DEMANDING his TV. So we had to stop. No more Curious George or Sesame Street. It had become Harm's crack habit. So we have a new method now. He earns his "video time" and we only have one video. His beloved Thomas. I like it b/c it has very low key with graphics and sounds. Less addicting. I even ordered a 2nd video if it gets boring for him. I'm always teased by my close friends especially.


I do still try to be a fun mom. I let the kids eat Happy Meals (granted they get apples and chocolate milk instead of fries and a soda). I bring fun snacks for church and the kids always get a small little dessert each night after dinner if they eat their good things first. We always have great activities planned for them; and we are working with Harmon to earn toys and activities he really wants (the toddlers are still in spoiling range).

I dunno though. I suspect one day my kids are going to think I'm a bit of a stick in the mud... oh well such is life ;) I can live with that... I just need to learn to not let all my friends teasing bug me. They can do what they want for their kids but for mine... that is why they are mine!

1 comment:

  1. I applaud you, Francisca - it's really OK if your choice is healthy food and activities! My kids didn't know what gum was until they started school; Brei played soccer only because it meant she would get a soda on game days; and I firmly believe you can't spoil a child under the age of two! Oh, I think we do think a lot alike!

    ReplyDelete