tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post5951546513901702406..comments2024-03-11T05:02:29.114-06:00Comments on indietutes: plastic treesCharity Indietuteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517919253368724623noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-78706282168897756162010-07-19T10:54:14.048-06:002010-07-19T10:54:14.048-06:00Like many, I agree that balance is key. Although ...Like many, I agree that balance is key. Although I want my kids to live and learn in a safe, positive environment, the world isn't all organic, safe or beautiful and to keep them away from reality for the sake of security doesn't do them or the world any good. I also think having a future perspective in child raising is helpful. Not only what kind of person do I see them becoming but also what do they need in order to navigate this world. As always, thanks for sharing your journey and inviting others into the conversation.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645787322477117699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-34823598482128536202010-07-19T07:26:06.451-06:002010-07-19T07:26:06.451-06:00Hi, I have been reading your blog for a long time....Hi, I have been reading your blog for a long time. I found you when I was searching for a pattern to make a little red riding hood cape for my daughter. <br /><br />I don't post on blogs but I thought I would today.<br /><br />You are not alone in your parenting style and balance is everything. I remember when my boys were babies and I promised myself I would never put them in clothes that has the image of a cartoon on the front. Well that was foolish and, if i had never allowed them to have them, selfish. Children have a right to creative play. If we are to truly allow them the freedom to develop, replacing their toys with faceless dolls and wooden blocks would be selfish. Teaching them about capitalism and how toy manufactures, TV shows, and movies make us want to buy things helps them learn about the world while still enjoying the things that are in it. <br /><br />I agree that balance is the key.Aliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020037639319588476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-4686807374905958252010-07-19T02:55:55.541-06:002010-07-19T02:55:55.541-06:00I love this! I think I'm in the same category....I love this! I think I'm in the same category. <br /><br />So, when you said: Even if I believed I had the right to completely stage my children's environment, would I actually be able to pull it off?<br /><br />For some things, like the all-wooden-toys-all-the-time, I get to a breaking point where I just can't keep it up. I'm realizing that I just don't have the stamina to pull of things that don't speak to me. We each have our battles, right?Leilahttp://www.bilingualbaby.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-62888817432536103102010-07-18T17:02:23.783-06:002010-07-18T17:02:23.783-06:00A good read and well thought out. Sounds like you...A good read and well thought out. Sounds like you're doing a great job and will find the balance for your family.Mary Zoomhttp://maryzoom.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-80958677566773873962010-07-18T16:05:38.444-06:002010-07-18T16:05:38.444-06:00That was very well said. It's so hard to live...That was very well said. It's so hard to live the balanced life. When you're in the middle, you have critics on both sides. I'd say you're doing great. BTW, our car is 11 years old. We're shooting for 200,000 miles. :)hilltopmomhttp://houseonhilltop.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-38173229326748385942010-07-18T08:43:49.034-06:002010-07-18T08:43:49.034-06:00Oh gosh, I can relate to this. I'm a lot like ...Oh gosh, I can relate to this. I'm a lot like you - I'd call myself a modern, vegan hippy girl. I've decided that I'll live my best life as an example, and that I won't restrict everything my children are exposed to. I want them to be able to make some judgements themselves. For example, they used to LOVE McDonalds (they're not vegan), but I read them a book about factory farming. Now THEY'VE decided to eat hamburgers from a much animal-friendlier restaurant. To me, that's much more powerful than if I imposed the restriction.Miss Pricklyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17124464700790056459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-60357963074272461552010-07-18T02:57:40.431-06:002010-07-18T02:57:40.431-06:00It is so nice to know that there are people out th...It is so nice to know that there are people out there who have similar beliefs and ideals in regard to childraising. People think I'm mental because I make coloured rice for play, and because my kids don't watch TV, and *gasp* because I like to play with my kids instead of sending them off to their rooms to play with their toys. I love that you let your children make their own mistakes, they will learn so much faster than just being told 'no, you can't do that'. We are all bumbling through, even those of us who read everything, and soak up every child related book we can get our hands on.<br /><br />thanks again for a fab post - as always xStephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18078706141329909992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-55584150032748773642010-07-17T22:54:11.534-06:002010-07-17T22:54:11.534-06:00As a teacher, I love parents like you - I'd be...As a teacher, I love parents like you - I'd be heartbroken if I taught in your community, lol, I'd want your kids in my class:) Kids like yours are open minded and bring so much imagination to mundane tasks because they've been allowed to play and explore. As an aunty to a 1.5 yo and a 4yo, I always think through 3 things when I buy or make gifts:)<br />1.will she enjoy it for more than a day?<br />2.Is it something her parents will approve of, do they have room for it?<br />3.Is it educational (in any of the 8 multiple intellegence realms)Princess_Sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10259027972652877594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-43046896907089025082010-07-17T22:05:44.046-06:002010-07-17T22:05:44.046-06:00Thanks all for the great feedback. I always appre...Thanks all for the great feedback. I always appreciate your input, especially when I'm feeling all insecure about this child raising thing. It truly is great to know that so many of us run the same thought paths throughout our days. Means it's normal and healthy.<br /><br />Mother lode, I love your blog. I ended up bookmarking many more things than I'll be able to do when I visited, but, still, thanks for the inspirations!<br /><br />Parasombra, watching the kids is one way for me to avoid going overboard with the parenting/educational philosophies. It's hard to buy into it too much when I can see what works and what doesn't right in front of me. I have never, ever seen the kids use a toy like it was intended to. If they ever received a new toy and wanted to know what it 'does' I'd be worried, but they are both very people orientated and use the toys as mere props in their games. In that way, it doesn't matter if it's a waldorf doll or a tickle me elmo, to Smootch it's a baby or a dolphin or a customer. I think it's a good thing, that the imagination triumphs, but maybe it means that they are just really out of touch from reality :D I'll keep watching and see how it turns out :)Charity Indietuteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517919253368724623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-46552142183484180012010-07-17T20:36:01.707-06:002010-07-17T20:36:01.707-06:00What a great post! I am also a mom trying to find ...What a great post! I am also a mom trying to find the right balance, and I know others in the same boat. Thanks for letting us in on your thoughts. You're not alone, and it's good to know I'm not alone in this either!Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481991215781937995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-19923206848472228502010-07-17T19:50:17.304-06:002010-07-17T19:50:17.304-06:00Loving the VW symbol on the wooden car!Loving the VW symbol on the wooden car!kariwhitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06208108715229081779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-36028601153924843262010-07-17T19:00:21.106-06:002010-07-17T19:00:21.106-06:00Sometimes I am thankful that I fell into Home Educ...Sometimes I am thankful that I fell into Home Education just because school didn't work for my dd like it had for her brothers.<br /><br />I have only recently read John Holt's Learning all the time and it was good to read it now with two years of living this way under my belt and not two years before to fill me with concern about whether I could provide a learning environment for my child. What amazed me on reading it was that my dd really has learned to read just a he describes - and without my 'help'. Ignorance was bliss!<br /><br />I'm not sure if you want advice or not but mine would be to go back to watching the child just like they say when you are first breastfeeding. Watch the baby: not the charts or the clock, or the books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-59339720053321678082010-07-17T18:17:03.211-06:002010-07-17T18:17:03.211-06:00such a great article that resonates with me so muc...such a great article that resonates with me so much! <br /><br />so, i read this article yesterday:<br /><br />http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/why-is-this-thing-in-every-preschool/<br /><br />which caused me to re-evaluate some of my ideas for what creates a rich play environment for children. <br /><br />do i dare admit that i was the parent that not only looked for the S&W table inside the classroom, but wanted one (ok, at least two, one for indoors, one for out!) for our home??<br /><br />rather than beat myself up for this contradiction, i actually consider it part of the parenting process, the constant cycle of question, evaluate, tweak, repeat. <br /><br />i think we can be firm in our beliefs while being flexible in how we implement them. thank you for the nice reminder that sometimes what is best for our children is being open, caring, and sometimes simply finding the positive and flowing with it even when it goes against someone's (even our own!) idea of what's best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-9131072695896907632010-07-17T17:39:07.728-06:002010-07-17T17:39:07.728-06:00As one working right now to find balance for our o...As one working right now to find balance for our own little family, I really appreciated this post. Truthfully, I appreciate all your posts, but this one had a special meaning!Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12751241412839757633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-58625583944099336022010-07-17T16:35:17.813-06:002010-07-17T16:35:17.813-06:00I always disliked the crappy plastic toys but figu...I always disliked the crappy plastic toys but figured that was really more a matter of taste than play value. The real problem was toys that had a story (usually Disney) attached that limited play. If Fred Flintstone couldn't ride in a VW because he doesn't in the show then I'd dump him. Otherwise he's just another doll, which is (ugly but) okay.Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574269791828128314.post-6796341724329719792010-07-17T16:17:04.238-06:002010-07-17T16:17:04.238-06:00I think the key is balance. At least, that is what...I think the key is balance. At least, that is what I'm learning at this point in my life. I've been blogging about that a lot lately. It's been difficult to accept that balance. That there *is* actually a balance-able life to be had and not completely one way or the other and that it's okay to have that kind of life.Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06387604778357366261noreply@blogger.com