What Am I Doing Right?
- July 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM by Fistandantalus
- 11 Comment(s)
- 130 Total Views
Today, I played "Block Mom" for a gang of local kids. They've been coming around, in pairs or more, for a few weeks now, asking for odd jobs and the like. I gave them a few jobs, which they did very competently, including fixing my son's bicycle, and I took them swimming and gave them permission to ride their bicycles on the property and go fishing down at the pond if they followed common-sense safety protocols and promised not to litter down there. Over the last few weeks, several of them showed interest in playing the violin. I gave them a few lessons. Some of them showed interest in some of the math stuff lying around. I showed them a few tricks. This morning, FIVE lads arrived on their dirt bikes, asking for VIOLIN LESSONS AND MATH TUTORING!
We ended up having violin lessons all around, then I played John Williams' Greatest Hits for them (Indiana Jones' theme song was the big hit), showed them all how to multiply two-digit numbers in their heads and factor to primes, read to all of them out of E. Nesbit's The Magic City, got MJ to demonstrate the Trinomial Cube and had HER show them how to do it (classic guys, just classic), took them all swimming for 90 minutes and then brought them all inside and let them play Wii while the pizza dough was rising, then I let them make their own pizzas and they all got to take home loaves of Squash Bread (don't knock it; squash is cheap right now).
I never once had an argument with any of these kids. All of them were polite, respectful, eager to learn and responsive to instruction.
Where are all the rotten kids?
UPDATE: I got telephone calls from the parents of those kids last night. All the parents asked me if it was okay that the boys came over, were they behaving and the like. I was happy to tell them yes, their kids are great kids that I enjoy spending time with.
All of those lads were respectful, not only to me, but to my children. They helped my son learn how to gain balance on his newly-fixed bicycle. They were careful not to impede my daughter's swimming lesson with their cannonball contest. They complimented my kids on how well they swim. I fully expect to see them again today.
- Written by Fistandantalus on July 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM
- 130 total views
- See all posts by Fistandantalus
Comments:
What Bubbly said! Sometimes kids just need something to do. Good job bein the block momma!
Can we come over? :)
I'm so hoping I can put this the right way. But I wonder Liz, if the reason these kids are so interested in these things (and in particular, doing them with you) is because of a lack of parental involvement.
In my experience, there aren't bad kids, but rather an overabundance of bad parenting. You are a very good mother (feel free to feel good about that) and very involved in your kid's lives. Maybe these kids feel that this is an element that they're missing from their own lives. Children instinctively search out things that they are missing.
Oh, and I want your squash bread recipe. Do you shred it or puree it?
What you're doing is letting them have responsibility...you're letting them make mature decisions...you're letting them know that they are important and their voices count....BRAVO for you
Oh, and not to be a total buzkill, but it could be these are GOOD kids, with GOOD parents, who are just bored this summer and you have all the cool fun stuff on your property. : )
I'm with Christie - can we come over too?
Ivan and I are on our way.
Oh, and you know they're using you for your Wii and pizza, right?
You are awesome. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.
only incompetant adults have rotten kids. aqll kids are pretty decent if y ou handle them the right way- which you obviously do. I'm slightly jealous of your life. I have only seen a 1 yr old, a 13 yr old girl, an 18 yr old boy/guy I guess. and only saw then baby and girl once.
Ya know, I didn't expect to cry when I read this post, but here I am doing just that. There's so much miserable crap that passes for parenting these days that I usually feel like the aberration in my neighborhood for spending -and actually ENJOYING - as much time as I can get with my daughter. She's only three, but your post is my fantasy of her tween and teen years. Thank you for posting and touching my heart. I imagine those kids will reflect on their time with you far into adulthood. You must be a gem.
Want to leave a comment and join the discussion?
Click here to register for CafeMom
Already a member?Click here to log in
I once heard that "rotten or troubled kids are just misguided youths looking to put their creative energy somewhere else"
bubblycute Jul. 23, 2008 at 6:24 PM