I have a lot on my mind and I just can't focus on one subject right now so random ramblings is how we are going to roll right now...
On January 25 I blogged that I was mad that we haven't had any snow. I so regret that now. We had two feet of snow in February and now in March we are just now getting the last foot we got on Sunday melted. It is cold, it is muddy, it is no fun. Where is Spring? Last year for Easter my girls were wearing sun dresses and sandals. We had everyone over and we sat outside and talked while the kids played and hunted eggs. This year I had to go out and buy tights that match their Easter dresses and I'm hoping that the snow will be melted so eggs can be hidden and at the same time hoping that it isn't too muddy while they are hunting said eggs. Oh, weather, you really can't make up your mind can you.
Development. I think every parents worries that their child has to hit milestones at certain times to feel that the kids are on track. I do and don't do this. My kids haven't been on the growth chart their entire lives so I threw that milestone checker out the door a long time ago. Between being breastfed for two years each and both of them choosing to eat spinach salads over chicken nuggets, well, they are considered "small" in the medical community. I just call them healthy. On the knowledge development side, I've kind of always just gone with my gut. My first was an early talked. I mean EARLY talker. Where some kids were just saying a handful of words at 18 months she was speaking in clear concise sentences. This left me with not much knowledge of where I should be at with number two right now. I was worried, she didn't talk in sentences and had just a few words. I just had to let go of the fear that she was somehow behind. She has blossomed in the last month with her words, sometimes they are hard to understand but they are there. And, when you have a big sister that was an early talker, well, the little sister gets talked over. I know they are both okay and they will both develop at their own pace. And on the same note, my last blog I wrote about how the big girl doesn't draw shapes. That she loves art but she is very abstract. I have never ever ever seen her draw a person. I had seen kids at preschool much younger than her drawing people. When we have been out doing sidewalk chalk I would ask her if she could draw a person. She would just tell me that she didn't want to and continue on her own thing. That's fine with me. So, fast forward to last night she was in the shower and yells at me to come look at something, quick. So I run in there and with her loofa and shower gel clear as day there was a head, body, arms and legs on the shower door. I said "Wow, you drew a person!" She corrected me and told me she drew an avatar but she just forgot the tail. So, I guess technically I still have never seen her draw a person but an avatar is perfect too.
Gender Biasing. I have girls. They love pink. They love princesses. Sometimes they like bows in their hair and sometimes they don't. Big girl has gone through a dinosaur phase but she has also gone through a pony phase. I don't direct what they like and I make sure that I don't tell them that something is boy versus girl. This brings me to now and Big Girls current obsession - superheroes. I'm not talking Wonder Woman either. This girl is in love with Spider-Man followed closely by Batman. For her fourth party in June she is having a Spider-Man birthday party. I have gotten the looks and questions - "you are really letting her have a spider-man party" or in the famous words of my Teen "spider-man is for boys"...well, no Spider-Man is for people that like Spider-Man. She has Spidey pjs and flip flops. The Easter Bunny is bringing her a new tee and sunglasses. And the outfit that she wants to wear for her birthday party - a Spider-Girl costume. And guess what, she is getting it. So, don't tell me or her or her sisters, that something is for boys. Anything in this world is for anybody. My kids can play soccer, be cheerleaders, go to vocal camp or space camp. What makes them happy makes me happy and in a world where there is far too much hate and not enough understanding, maybe gender stereotypes is just what everyone needs to get rid of.
I have more things on my mind but I think I'll leave it at that for now. Just remember no matter what you are doing make sure that you are DOing IT WITH HEART. - M
