I have a 7 month old daughter, my wife and I both work full time and have been lucky to have Grandma and Great Grandma watch her while we are at work. My wife worked in a church day care when she was in High School. She said it was impossible to keep up with all the kids. Being a new father this just breaks my heart. Seems to open the eyes a little.
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Sometimes, when i'm lonely... i crawl into a laundry basket and tickle my ears. But, Some times I don't...
As many people know, I work with a charity with sick children, and we do see a few children who pass away (but sometimes that's a good thing, it's sad to say). But, I'm also a claustrophobic, and dying from heat stroke being locked in a van all day seems like one of the worst ways to go.
Sparky, the new fears and worries, and wierd things you think of when you have a child almost make it not worth it huh? for me anyway. then i find myself feeling like having another!
JC, You don't realize just how much is involved! I call it a good night when I get 3 1/2 hours of sleep. But I know what you mean about the worries! But I wouldn't change it for the world!
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Sometimes, when i'm lonely... i crawl into a laundry basket and tickle my ears. But, Some times I don't...
I never blinked paying for the most expensive day care center in our area. In fact, I only got in because I knew someone, or I'd of been on a wait list for about 6-9 months!
We had a day care van incident in this area - where the day care provider was moonlighting as a maid service - leaving the children in the van while she cleaned houses during the day!! Can you believe that? Unreal... Fortunately, I think she was reported before any harm came to the kids.
We also had an incident where a mom called her husband because the day care center had called asking why their child hadn't been dropped off... Apparently they flip flopped who would bring the child, and it was his turn and he left the child in the car - I often wonder how someone ever gets over that kind of tragedy. I'd be locked up, or become an alcoholic, or some other self-destruction of some sort...
One point that comes out of this is the fact that we really need to slow life down and re-set our priorities. We went through the same thing when our girls were babies/toddlers, we just had so much to do! The parents are probably kicking themselves for using daycare, but who really has a choice? That also fuels the conditions that cause these tragedies. These centers have a lot of kids. As we've gone along we've made a conscious effort to keep the schedule more under control, but we're still pretty busy. It is so tough, but we have got to reject a lot of what society tells us about what "living" is a re-focus on hearth and home.
And to play both sides of the arguement, let's be thankful for the many, many daycare centers that you never hear about because they do their job and do it well. The successes outway the failures.
CP- I agree. Being a dad is the best. But those trying teenage years...I started asking my oldest, when she was about 12, if we were the dumbest people she knew. She said no and wanted to know why. I told her one day you'll think were the dumbest people on the planet and I just want to know when that day arrives. Now her little sister, 13, I don't have to ask. I think we've been stupid for about a year and a half now. I'm sure one day we'll look back with her and laugh. But for now...whew!!!
Because times change so fast kids just figure their parents can't relate to their lives today. But the reality of it is that the base of all their problems is no different than the problems their parents had when they were that age.
I remember thinking my parents just didn't understand. I remember thinking my parents were "stupid". If only we had the foresight as a teenager to realize that our parents had life experiences that TRULY could have helped us avoid some pitfalls as kids.
I'm not a parent, but my only other sibling is a sister that was born when I was 14. As a teenager I always felt like I got a raw deal, having to be a built-in baby sitter for her and in many ways feeling more like a parent than a brother because I was so much older than her.
When she got to her low teens I saw her going through things that I had gone through and wanted to help her avoid, but it was like talking to a brick wall because she just figured I didn't get it.
You guys have the right idea. Establish that communication well before you become "stupid" and then maybe you can keep it throughout the teenage years.
I'm both dreading and looking forward to my sister's teenage years. It may sound weird, but I have a soft spot for teenagers. Many adults just ignore the things they're going through because they're "just being a teenager." I think the teen years are an integral part in a child's life, and what they do as a teenager will shape the person they become, and/or haunt them for the rest of their lives. I want to be there and do for my sister that my parents didn't and couldn't do for me. I'm still her hero, and I hope she will still feel free to talk to me when there's no one else she can talk to, even when I'm just a dumb adult.
This weekend my wife and daughter and I are going camping in a remote location. I think I will use the time to reflect on what I have and have accomplished in my life. Sometimes you have to get your feet planted again...
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Sometimes, when i'm lonely... i crawl into a laundry basket and tickle my ears. But, Some times I don't...
