Scooter and I had a discussion on how we'd like to see Frederick and Austin raised especially during this episode called youngster-hood.
While both children were napping late this morning I sat back in bed and mentioned to him that my ideal situation for Austin is to raise him without so many things, toys...well, things. I don't even feel the need to buy him brand new toys and clothes right now, although he does have both due to friends and relatives kindly thinking of him. I've never felt the urge to fall into the parent trap of purchasing tummy-time mats or designer strollers, Baby Einstein videos promising to make my son a genius or clothing from the latest seasonal line at Gymboree.
In my absolute ideal world where everyone recycles, holds doors open for those with strollers and all drive hybrids (I'm working on the hybrid part for our family!) it would be awesome for Austin (and Frederick) to know experiences rather than tangible things.
Things sitting in a toy box can be taken away or burned to the ground in a house fire while experiences last forever.
The money that we'd save from going out to purchase all these fancy baby things, well, I'd rather it go towards something like preschool or kindergarten at Three Cedars Waldorf School, which I believe would be an awesome experience for Austin. It would be something he'd remember far more than being pushed around in a Kate Spade stroller.
We've been falsely led to believe that our children will not flourish without every gadget engineered by corporate men sitting around a table wearing short-sleeve white shirts and cheap ties. I believe as a mom it's up to us to decide what our money is better spent on - experiences for our children or gadgets meant to suck the money right out of us. (Seriously, who needs a spa bathtub with a whirlpool feature for their infant? Sorry if I'm offending anyone who has actually purchased this interesting item.)
When I finished my spur of the moment speech, Scooter could not have agreed more, not that any doubt lingered in my mind. It always feels good to be on the same page with your spouse when it comes to how your child will be raised.
2 comments:
Well said. I'm not saying my kids don't have lots of things but that is mostly because I LOVE yard sales and consignment shops. We are big fans of weekend trips, family vacations, classes for the kiddos; however I still think I could do better.
There are so many THINGS that we are urged to purchase or use that we don't need to raise a child.
I know we definitely have more toys than we "need" for Griffin, but toys are a big part of how children learn. Those toys don't have to come new, or even be commercial. There are lots of great websites out there on how to make age-appropriate toys out of common things you have around your house.
I agree - the experiences are key. I always have Griffin enrolled in a class or play-based group of some kind and love taking him to new places. You are very lucky to be in Seattle, there are millions of things to do and show kids there!
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