tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post7491992483978212758..comments2024-02-07T11:31:44.141+03:00Comments on On Life in St. Petersburg: Life lessons for mother and childElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283395756742923658noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-17366831979129468652015-06-06T05:09:25.963+03:002015-06-06T05:09:25.963+03:00Yes; I think I could talk to the second grade boys...Yes; I think I could talk to the second grade boys mainly because their moms were NOT there. You have to be so careful what you say to other people's children when they are there! I hear tell (glad I missed it) that a few years ago in our very staid church, one father criticized the church manners of another man's son, and they two got into a fistfight right there. Kind of a startling idea...but goes to show.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623179886908222942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-82695942405861212982015-06-05T17:36:23.740+03:002015-06-05T17:36:23.740+03:00The playground parenting debate can get rather nas...The playground parenting debate can get rather nasty! Honestly, on a public playground with strangers, I would play it safe. And I don't consider 2-3 years old to be old enough to defend oneself. While I don't agree with being all "fussy," I see nothing wrong with playing WITH a child. But I think you hit on something there in that you have fewer responsibilities than usual. It's funny how playing with my own child can seem like such a drag sometimes and then I catch myself being playful with friends' kids. Playing with my son is my job, and sometimes "keeps" me from taking care of other responsibilities. So it seems like a hindrance sometimes, even though of course it is a privilege, too. I have gotten "looks" about letting D. stomp in puddles. Well, he and I have had our chat, and we have come to our own agreement, which is nobody else's business! I also think that the adult-child ratio has to be just right. With an adult for every child, it feels stifling. But too many kids can be a bit chaotic. I think it's fun that the kids like to talk to you. I would love to talk to kids more, but as I said, there are often too many adults around.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283395756742923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-55596613198864653152015-06-02T05:56:15.128+03:002015-06-02T05:56:15.128+03:00I've been having lots of "playground"...I've been having lots of "playground" moments like these here in Florida. I suppose it is because a) I have more time with no responsibilities and b) there is a playground across the street. Ordinarily there is no one on it. Partly for this reason, and mostly because this is just the way I am - I play WITH Monica on the equipment. I'm afraid she might fall. She asks me to go with her. Seems reasonable. When other children ride by or walk by on the sidewalk, she is SO intrigued, and the few times a mom has brought someone by her age, she's been SO excited....but then too overwhelmed to play with them. With the little girl Sophie, she tried to show off a bit, and she tried to get a little soccer game going...but Sophie was not into it. When the little boy, Jamie, came by - she "interacted" with him - laughing, smiling and clapping, until he began to come in her direction, then she'd freeze up and cling to me. When he finally got right up to her, and stole the pacifier out of her mouth and popped it into his own - she WAS surprised!<br /><br />Now, me. I didn't do so well either. These other moms were more the "stand there and watch" type, and that made me feel so self-conscious about being on the equipment myself! Especially because I am so much older than they are, and a bit more "dressed up" (one day actually wearing a nice dress) while they were standing there in athletic gear playing with their phones or sitting on the bench. <br /><br />I did try a couple of conversation starters that didn't go too far. Oh, well. <br /><br />One day three older (second grade) boys came by, and were all very excited about talking to me. One even asked me if I was a teacher, though I can't for the life of me imagine why he thought that. I guess I should be a teacher since my own social interactions seem to work best with the school-aged set.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623179886908222942noreply@blogger.com