I’m struggling with getting frustrated with my child! He won’t sit still, and I’ll know he knows things but suddenly magically forgets. He’s only 3, maybe I’m holding him and myself to a higher expectation than I should?
- Expectation Frustration
Dear Expectation Frustration,
Oh hon, I hear that! It’s the pressure that will kill ya. You want the best for your kiddo, I get it but if you give in to that pressure you will miss out on the most amazing experiences with your children.
Teaching, like feeding, your child is an expression of love. It is a gift.
A small child understands this from infancy. They depend on us to teach them to stay away from danger and to behave in a way that will help them develop good relationships. Dr Doman, the author of Teach Your Baby to Read, believes that testing or questioning a child after teaching them is like taking your gift back after you give to them. Just like you wouldn’t give them some candy and expect your small child to give it back to you.
In the end all we want is for our child to be happy now and in the future, we believe that a good education will make them happy. That isn’t exactly true. Good relationships will make them happy. And good relationships will get them the job and help them keep it.
So feed them as much information as you can teach them in every teachable moment. Teach them joyfully, while developing a good solid relationship with them.
They will share with you and give back to you what they have learned when they are ready to give to you. My Chey still amazes me when she repeats something I remember teaching her when she was small or excelling at something we worked on when she was young.
Love,