By Himanshi Patel
Parent Contributor
__________________________________________________________________
“Mommy, I did it! I made frog!” says my 3-year-old.
“I made flower,” adds my 2-year-old, not one to be left out.
I pick up my sons from The Nature of Things childcare center, where they have done amazingly well since their enrollment at the age of 3 months.
At the end of each day they have the biggest smiles on their face.
A child’s brain is a curious one. It wants to explore, learn and execute!
So how do you as a parent take advantage of this “opportunity” to teach? Typically the answer is to spend as much time as you can with your child—possibly having one parent stay home for the child’s overall development.
But how sane is it to be a stay-at-home parent? How sane is it for the child to stay at home all the time during his foundational years? Can you, as a stay-at-home parent, muster the tremendous amount of energy and creativity that is needed?
Being a professional South Asian mother, I asked myself yet another question: “Does my child need me to be with him 24/7?” Based on my past observations of parent-child interactions my answer was, “Not really.”
Your child observes the living role model at home—you. In my view, this is a crucial aspect of child development. I have noticed from other families that kids observe everything you say and do. This examination probed me to think: “You encourage your child to do artwork, music, or whatever he likes—to demonstrate his talents. Yet you yourself don’t do any of it.”
Does the child get any motivation if he doesn’t see your passion and good talents in action? Demonstrating your own talents is an important contribution to your child’s development.
My question is how do you balance managing your kids’ needs and pursuing your life? Many of us have several options these days—such as grandparents or extended family members watching kids, a nanny, or a daycare. As an ambitious parent, I wondered which option would be best for our child’s overall development.
The daycare center option has helped us tremendously in achieving these goals while pursuing our life and career. My sons have developed good gross-motor skills and vocabulary; are social, disciplined, independent, confident, and expressive; and learn about art, science, and nature—the list goes on.
They love me as much as they would if they had been home with me. They do get sick at daycare but all of it is normal seasonal stuff which helps build their immune system.
Prior to having children, I was often told the maxim of my life would be my kids. I was told to suppress my aspirations. When I was thinking about child development during my pregnancies it occurred to me that I needed to find a passion that would make me happy.
This school of thought is quite different. Role model for your children. Pursue your passion. Happy mother, happy child.
I stumbled into a Kathak dance class recently, joined it, and I absolutely love it! My kids love to watch me practice. They even say, “Mama, let’s go to your dance class.” So follow your dream without guilt. Your child will thank you for it.
