When I was pregnant with my oldest I had these ideas or visions of how I wanted to do my parenting style with her right. I valued my time with my mom in the kitchen and I was always in the kitchen with my mom since I was little - I mean primarily because I have always loved food and to eat! But that's neither here nor there :p What I'm getting at is that my mom would try to incorporate me into being with her and helping her in the kitchen since I can remember, though she was always cautious about specific things I couldn't and wouldn't help her with, the time with her in the kitchen was always memorable and something that stays with for always.
So what does that little explanation have to do with this post? Well it's the source of why I'm writing about the kids kitchen helper stools. See even though it's not that long ago when I was pregnant I've noticed a SEVERE change in the level of caution or for lack of a better term "the fear" that almost all parents now seemed to be gripped with and its fustratingly annoying! For starters, yes you want to protect your child/children but NOT in the risk of instilling their fear of life and therefore creating a sense of "fear for the unknown" or worse "the fear of trying something new because of the possible negative outcomes, etc". Like that's crap adults deal with and even then I find it annoyingly frustrating because we have only so much control of the revolving variables in our lives-good luck with the rest! My mother I knew was worried if I would get burned or perhaps I was too close to the stove top when I was helping her BUT that's the reason why she was there to reassure, reaffirm, or even caution that unless I paid attention there could be serious concern or something bad might happen. I learned to extend my limitations in the kitchen and in turn also gained confidence and assertiveness in the tasks that she had me doing. Yes, we obviously don't want our kids having concussions or severely injuring themselves but a little fall here and there or a little "scare" of the unknown is NOT bad by any means! Shoot I get so annoyed with adults who also instill this fear to those around them and they dont even HAVE kids! Please dont misconstrue what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind or DO NOT oversee what your kids are doing-NO NO NO-I'm all for caution and supervising/overwatch BUT I also know that I'm not going to hover/cradle/coddle or worse, instill an aura of fear or uncertainty because then how will my kids learn to grow/enhance or create their coping mechanisms in their daily life.
Anyway, moving on-apologies my squirrel tangent had me elaborate more. The point of what I was getting at was that with the changes I've observed in the world so to have the Childrens items. The helper stool I bought my oldest did not have these locks, or back bars, or any of these other pieces that seem to keep the child "caged" into the position to assist at the counter level. You'll see in my video below the exact model I had purchased from Amazon and though purchased in 2017 has lasted me and without incidents!
You'll notice that I'm a nice safe distant where I know I can move should I need to in order to reactively respond to a movement that might cause her to fall, but I'm encouraging her to do it herself. Ironically this video was also taken just three weeks after she started to walk! Believe me my heart was beating rapidly in my chest the hole time BUT how can I think to restrain her growing abilities and personality...The same way she learned to get up and down from the stool she also realized that she was never to attempt "leaning back" because there was no support for her and there wasn't anything to hold her in place. See in my mind this is a positive controlled environment that teaches our children to handle their responses, reactions, and emotions especially if theres a moment of panic or fear. You want to push them forward so that they continue to try and either get better or to keep trying and accomplish the task/motion. I remember so vividly my sister panicking and saying that my ex husband (husband at that time) needed to put a back to keep her in and I was vehemently against that-how else is the child to learn boundaries especially the ones that can save their lives-because that fall to the tile (thankfully never did) but could cause some serious injuries with thick concrete being what was underneath that tile!
Obviously a persona is going to do what they want to do, but for the sake of your kids and their personal growth (in a world that we wont always be around in by the way) get them a kitchen helper and have them help you in the kitchen. It either becomes the best time with your child/children or just a learning curve for various things or even better new talents and a passion for the kitchen that they can share with you. I know to this day my kiddos love to bake and cook with me and are learning new things everyday when they do help...
Actually if it wasn't for how tall and big my kids have gotten, I probably would've kept this stool, but since now they use simple steppers, I just gave it away last month to a neighbor for their daughter.
Sincerely,
A Distinct Woman
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