hurrying along
The scary but lovely needle-lady we met last week said to me that the one thing she wished she could do was stop hurrying her daughter everywhere.
So true. Some days I feel like I'm hauling two small people in and out of the car, around the supermarket, in and out of the bathroom, through breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks; hurry up hurry up hurry up.
I think that's why I loved camping so much. Above: Tilly investigating rocks while I sat on the path and watched. For ages. There was no phone reception. Adam had taken Henry off with the older kids to find a suspension bridge. Some of the group were off 4WD-ing around the property and others were involved in a serious scrabble game at the campsite.
We were in the middle of nowhere with nothing more pressing to do than investigate rocks. Marvellous. Must do more of it.
There is a whole thing now called slow parenting which I keep meaning to read more about (but have been too busy being a 'hyper parent' apparently). I like the idea. Can anyone (in the real world) actually make this work?
Love to know what you think.
xxx
Suzie B
June 12, 2009 at 1:17 pmAmazing. This article expressed what’s been muddling about in my head for quite a number of months but I wasn’t able to pinpoint it all so clearly.
As a teacher, I completely agree about the pressure some kids are under. When 4 year olds are going to tutoring, we, as a society, have hit a new low point.
As a fellow mum, I am saddened when I hear of friends who feel guilty that they can’t provide all the after school enrichment activities for their kids.
And I am grieved when I hear perfectly good parents constantly second guessing themselves because they have lost all confidence in their own parenting.
I think as a whole, we might need this ‘slow parenting’ idea even more than we realise.