Coming Up: Preschool
Gia is starting preschool in a few weeks. We also found a daycare center right around the corner from our house. I know it’s all for the best. There’s still a part of me that gets choked up thinking of her not being with us for any length of time. It’s got to be a control issue. We have a decent degree of control over her environment right now. She’s safe. She’s with us. The world can be a harsh place, and I want her never to have to be exposed to its harsh side. I want her to be all cuddly and cozy forever. As much as I’m repulsed by the images of spoiled rich celebrity kids all over the media these days, I can understand the motivation behind spoiling them. It’s a natural impulse, at least for me. I just wish Gia was a black belt already. That might put me at ease. Anyway, Gia needs to get out and socialize with some kids her age. I think they’re too young to be intentionally cruel to each other. Isn’t that a few years away? I’m not sure anymore. I keep hearing that kids are maturing much earlier these days. This doesn’t make sense to me. If we’re living longer, shouldn’t we be maturing later?
Well, I don’t know about too young to be intentionally cruel… We saw some behaviours by kindergarten-aged kids when we were in the schools (a nice, private Waldorf/Steiner school at that) that raised our eyebrows, especially among the girls. Lots of triangles at that age, and the “fun” of excluding people. But that happens everywhere at that age I think, as we see some of those behaviours in our homeschooling co-op, too.
It’s a control issue, one I’m well aware of, within myself. We’re fortunate to be able to spend as much time with our children as we do, but that also makes it more difficult to separate. Their exposure to the rest of the world is inevitable. They’ll encounter great things, as well as cruelty. All we can do is continue to do our best to educate and empower them. Kung Fu will come in handy as well.