There's Plenty of Time to Get Life Figured Out

My five year-old grandson recently announced to his mother, “I don’t have life all figured out, but I’m just five, so that’s okay.” 

I couldn’t agree more. No five year-old should have to feel they need to have life all figured out. For that matter, no child, regardless of their age, should be made to feel like they should have all the answers. In fact, just the opposite is true. As parents you need to do all you can to ensure your child is given their full childhood. Don’t force or allow them to grow up too quickly. 

*Don’t allow them to be exposed to grown-up problems, situations, and conversations. 

*Don’t allow them to watch or listen to television, movies, or music about people or situations older than they are—unless it is family-friendly.

*Don’t allow them to have a social network account until they are at least thirteen. *Don’t let them dress like mini-teens or adults. That includes makeup and jewelry, too.

*Don’t allow them to watch ‘reality’ television shows that promote growing up too quickly (pageants, teen parenthood, etc.).

*Don’t give your children too much privacy or too much freedom. We all need alone time and time to think and act independently, but the more time your children spend alone the more time they have to seek out role models and mentorship from someone besides you. 

Please don’t take this as an endorsement or ‘permission’ to be over-protective or to baby your children. This isn’t my intention in the least! Children need to be given age-appropriate responsibilities. They need to be taught and encouraged to be independent thinkers. But these things should be taught—not expected. 

Parents should never expect their child to pinch-hit as an adult. It’s not fair. It’s not healthy. And it’s not good parenting. So remember to keep the words to this Billy Dean song in your heart and in your mind; making them part of your parenting ‘plan’….

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

Love,

Momma D
                                            Copyright 2017 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author.