Monday, June 8, 2009

How to fit 4 years of parenting into 2 months

You can't. It is as simple as that. It can't be done.

With Bella leaving us soon, I feel pressured to hurry up and teach her everything and take her everywhere. I thought we were going to have more time. I sing children's songs, read books, do hand rhymes, count objects, say the alphabet, reiterate proper hygiene, help with healthy food choices, encourage manners and morals and following the rules, but there is very little sinking in to her head and the time is running out, so the pressure builds.

My goals were:
To have Bella caught up with her peers academically by the time she left our home.
To have Bella wipe properly without using an entire roll of toilet paper PLUS an entire box of wipes.
To teach Bella to wash her hands after toileting and before meals.
To have Bella recognize three meals and three snacks as normalcy and to trust that she would be given these meals consistently.
To have Bella stop climbing into strangers laps.
To have Bella recognize truth from lie.
To have Bella learn to reply with yes, no, yes ma'am, no ma'am instead of grunting or mumbling snotty replies.
To have Bella's teeth cleaned and repaired and to teach her good dental hygiene.
To teach Bella respect for herself, for her toys, for other people.
To take Bella to all the places that one expects during childhood like the zoo, aquarium, camping, museum, library storytime, to the beach, to an amusement park, hiking, to the playground, etc.
To enroll Bella in all kinds of activities from swimming lessons to gymnastics so that she can burn off some of her energy but also so that she can figure out what she likes to do.
To provide structure, guidance, love, and a model of a healthy child/parent relationship.

There just isn't enough time. I've been working on it since day one, but it takes longer than two months to mend four years of a persons life. She has grown, she has learned, and she has experienced, but I have not been able to accomplish all of the goals I wanted for her. Regardless, every little bit helps & every little bit matters.

3 comments:

Cheryl said...

I'm sorry, that must be upsetting. But you can rest assured that you did the last one 100%! ((HUGS))

ali said...

UGH i hear you. but dont worry about the truth/lie thing, shes way too young anyway. take that one right off the list. i hope her Grammy is truly feeling "invested" and is preparing for her arrival. i really hope this isnt an "as much as i'm not really into this,no one else is going to have her" scenario i am so ever so familiar with.
you are only ONE person.
how many more days?

Kellie said...

All you can do is all you can do. She's lucky to have been with you for as long as she has and I'm sure you've gone a long way towards helping her learn and experience the things she should have.