Relocating to a new city presents numerous challenges. Beginning to work from home while juggling three school-aged children and one preschooler is even more daunting. The task of finding other solitary four-year-olds can lead to the thought that perhaps having a fifth child would have provided some companionship for the youngest. It can feel like a relentless cycle.
In my earlier parenting days, I prided myself on being an attentive mother. I organized playgroups and carefully selected my boys’ outfits each day. We had a collection of bath toys that were meant for the tub and maintained a structured bath routine. Our days were packed with visits to the public library, and I can’t even begin to recount the homemade playdough and jello finger painting sessions. I pushed myself to the limit, trying to condense 18 years of parenting into the first four.
One of my fundamental parenting principles was to strictly limit my children to the recommended two hours of television each day—except for particularly challenging days when they might have watched three hours (which may have happened twice). We avoided shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and the violent reruns of Power Rangers. As for Sesame Street, I was convinced it contributed to the rising cases of ADD and Autism. My children were only allowed a carefully curated selection of Barney, Baby Einstein, and the occasional Disney movie on rainy days.
Between storytime at the library and meticulously planned playdates, I learned a vital lesson in parenting: pace yourself.
Fast forward a decade, and I now find myself home alone with my youngest child, who is just a year away from entering the wonderful world of public school. I would love to say she enjoys playdates and trips to the zoo, but honestly, I’m too exhausted and lethargic to seek out vibrant mothers who still manage to bathe their children daily.
So, what do you do with the youngest child? You let them indulge in whatever television shows they prefer and provide them with crayons and cardboard boxes to keep them entertained while you work. Scatter a few Cheerios on the floor, let the water run so she can fill her cup, turn on Baby Bratz, and voilà—four hours of uninterrupted work with minimal complaints. Thanks to technology, I can seamlessly transition her to the next feature without leaving my desk.
While we occasionally watch educational shows like Super Why and Daniel Tiger to ensure she’s absorbing letters and social skills, her six hours of preschool each week hardly fills her schedule.
I’m done feeling guilty. Through some miraculous process, she has learned to write some letters and numbers and is even teaching herself to tie her shoes. After all, limiting my second child’s screen time didn’t prevent him from developing Autism, so I’m not overly concerned about her cognitive development.
Sometimes, as mothers, we must make tough choices. I recall when I was four, spending my days at my father’s real estate office while my mother returned to work. There were no iPads or DVDs—just me and a bunch of old filing cabinets to play with. It was a challenging year until my father bought a VCR, along with a solitary video that I watched on repeat. It truly transformed my world; I can still recite every line from Charlotte’s Web.
I refuse to chastise myself for the fact that my youngest child is spending a year at home without a sibling to entertain her. I can’t be her constant playmate, and I reject the pressure to engage in educational games all day long. My days of intensive learning play are long gone.
If she wants me to supervise her dolls during their nap, that’s perfectly fine. Otherwise, let’s dive into a little Spanish with Dora today, shall we? For more insights on navigating the journey of motherhood, check out our other blog post on artificial insemination kits.
Summary
Navigating motherhood evolves significantly over the years. Initially focused on strict parenting guidelines, the author learns to adapt to the realities of raising a fourth child with fewer expectations. Embracing screen time and educational opportunities, she finds balance in her parenting approach while acknowledging the challenges of modern motherhood.
Keyphrase: Raising a child with television
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