Oooo..my 27 month old will be going to preschool soon and this is exactly what I am afraid of...I am just not ready to let her out of the beautiful bubble we have formed together...I don't want her to see mean kids and pick up not-so-nice language anf form baseless opinions...I know it's bound to happen and she has to experience her life, I can't do it for her...but I so wish I could protect her!! I have never been separated from her until now for more than a few hours at a time when she would be with my hubby or a relative and leaving her under the care of strangers (well-meaning and well-trained no doubt, but strangers all the same!) and other kids who may not always be a good influence just breaks my heart. Like you, I dread the day she will come out of school and say or do something that will shatter some the magical moments and memories we have shared. A timely post that I can completely relate to. Thanks!
Sarah
· 11 months ago
Working in a school it breaks my heart (and makes me mad) when children tell me pink is a girls colour or cars are only for boys etc. Luckily this year quite a few of the boys are into dolls and love pushing the prams round the garden. Nobody has commented on this. It makes me happy to see the girls building with the bricks and the boys in the dressing up dresses. I remember many years ago one little boy refusing to tidy up as 'Thats a job for girls'.
Alison
· 11 months ago
Its something that has to be gone through, and something that has to be started, or else children won't have their own ideas about tribal matters. Kids aren't born with self-respect, or with knowledge about the world, and at first, their reactions to such knowledge will be immature and childish. They are children. They have yet to learn these things, and this is the start of their learning, and interaction with the world. If its of any comfort to any parents, this phase is very valuable: Your child is being exposed to tribal beliefs, and this is the first step to finding their own individual sense of what's right.
maz
· 11 months ago
Oh, it's such a shame when they have to go to school and well, mix! It's awful the way things 'rub off' and it's always the bad things. It's not just what he's saying, it's the ideation. Hopefully, he'll learn from these experiences (after all, his parents did) but maybe children have to experience other people's ideas etc., before they can become the person they will eventually be. It's just a dreadful learning curve. I tried that no junk food thing too but was well over-ruled by in-laws who felt it was a child's right to have chocolate and chips and gave them liberally to other grandchildren in front of my child - and blew that 'rule' out of the water.
MoJo
· 11 months ago
Ohhhh - it is heart breaking, isn't it? We've managed to skirt it thus far as our daughter is at home with our care provider and she has a healthy love of dolls and dinosaurs, beads and cars. You're right though - it's really all a process of letting go. At least Harry comes home to you each day and has a balance to the 'flippin' stupid' things he might be exposed to ;-)
Keris
· 11 months ago
Thanks for all your comments. It's such a comfort to know that others are going through this too (and that it may well be good for us!).
All Comments
I remember many years ago one little boy refusing to tidy up as 'Thats a job for girls'.