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Slacker mom, slacker kid

I don't think I will ever be one of those moms who puts her kids in a plethora of activities. I am against over-scheduling (let kids be kids), but I am kind of a slacker mom anyway. But at this point, I almost wonder if my kid will ever willing be involved in anything.

Growing up, my brothers and I were typically involved in one activity at a time. I recall taking dance lessons for a short time when I was three. For the first three years of grade school, I was a Brownie, and for the next few years, I was back to dance lessons. Oh, and one year I was an awful pom-pom girl (which was probably the year I did not take dance lessons). My parents were all about family time. But I am fairly certain that back in the '70s and maybe early '80s (and certainly long before that), that was the way most parents were.

I knew when Jordan was a baby, toddler, and even a young preschooler, I would not be taking her to Gymboree, an art class, soccer, or dance lessons. Because she was in daycare, she had plenty of social interaction, and I was not so willing to give up my precious little time with my kid anyway.

But when she entered kindergarten and again in first grade, I threw out all sorts of ideas. Unfortunately, nothing interested her. Since I was not working, I was not exactly heart-broken that she did not want to attend $60/month dance lessons. But I could not even get her to sing in the children's choir for Christmas or take a one-evening beading class at the library, things I am sure she would enjoy.

Mostly, she is scared of new things, and she really hates to be without me (in addition to being a slacker mom, I am also a helicopter mom). So I am now faced with the dilemma of forcing her to try something or letting it go for now, since she is only six. I particularly would like her to participate in the Catholic Schools Week mass in a few weeks. I am paying a lot of money for this school, and she likes it, so I figured she could at least be a greeter. We would be there anyway!

If anyone has any thoughts, I would appreciate it. Until then, I am planning to take her to an art class at the library tomorrow.

Comments

Lynnette said…
Sounds like you're doing the right thing... get her involved in something that you can be there for. That way, she's doing something different, but with the comfort of knowing that you're right there. If you can think of other things like this art class that allow you to be present, I'd say try it. It will help her find something she's interested in, but still feel safe.
Anonymous said…
I agree with Lynnette. Find things that you can stay but will also let you go when your daughter is ready for that. You are not always going to be with your kid. She goes to school without you!
Facie said…
The art class went just fine; there were only four other kids there, and the parents of three of them stayed. I did leave the room two times for a couple of minutes at a time, and she was fine with it. She did say she wants to go back, so I plan to try it next month, leaving her for longer stretches.

Yes, I know she is at school without me, and her first day she had the saddest look when I left her (captured on film, of course). Once she gets used to something, she is typically fine without me.

Still not ready to leave her at a party or on a playdate without me. Pathetic, I know.

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