re: TCS the modern view
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***One of the easiest things for parents to do is to do what their parents did,
or what their neighbors are doing, without really thinking much. There are
magazines to reinforce that. They can just dress their kids like mannequins
at Mervyn's and send them to the nearest school and buy them the recommended
Christmas gifts and slide right on through to the graduations and weddings.***
Sandra, you summed that up so well.
I have a friend (a good friend, met at La Leche League) who, after nursing her babies a good long time somehow fell right back into step with the rest of mainstream America after they were weaned. Her kids have perfect clothes, perfect toys in a perfect playroom, and spend their days in school and at the requisite after school activities. One time she was telling me how much her son hated little league practice and I asked her why she signed him up if he didn't want to do it. She actually looked confused and a little panicked before she admitted that it hadn't occured to her to ask him if he wanted to do it- she just signed him up when he became of age. Little League is as much an automatic part of childhood as school is, apparently.
My middle son (age 7) is playing soccer for the first time this year. When I mention to anyone that it's his first year they don't know what to make of it... the other kids have been playing since they were 4! When I say "well, he never wanted to play before now" I actually get silence and blank looks. It's threatening to many people to see other people (including children) think critically and make up their own minds rather than just doing the next thing layed out for them.
Patti
or what their neighbors are doing, without really thinking much. There are
magazines to reinforce that. They can just dress their kids like mannequins
at Mervyn's and send them to the nearest school and buy them the recommended
Christmas gifts and slide right on through to the graduations and weddings.***
Sandra, you summed that up so well.
I have a friend (a good friend, met at La Leche League) who, after nursing her babies a good long time somehow fell right back into step with the rest of mainstream America after they were weaned. Her kids have perfect clothes, perfect toys in a perfect playroom, and spend their days in school and at the requisite after school activities. One time she was telling me how much her son hated little league practice and I asked her why she signed him up if he didn't want to do it. She actually looked confused and a little panicked before she admitted that it hadn't occured to her to ask him if he wanted to do it- she just signed him up when he became of age. Little League is as much an automatic part of childhood as school is, apparently.
My middle son (age 7) is playing soccer for the first time this year. When I mention to anyone that it's his first year they don't know what to make of it... the other kids have been playing since they were 4! When I say "well, he never wanted to play before now" I actually get silence and blank looks. It's threatening to many people to see other people (including children) think critically and make up their own minds rather than just doing the next thing layed out for them.
Patti