My sister asked me when Ethan was like 4 months old, “Will you let him play with dirt?”. To that I said “Of course”. Then she went on to say how happy she was to hear that, because of the way Jose and I are, she didn’t think we would. And by that she meant that we like to have Ethan looking fly, not like super well dressed or anything, but if he’s wearing even a tee and shorts, that tee and those shorts have to be a nice tee and some nice looking shorts. Am I making any sense? Anyways. Now that time is here, E wants to play on the floor, the grass, in the dirt, and most of the time he wants to eat whatever he finds down there. So to that I responded then and I respond now.
I am a firm advocate of “letting kids be kids”, I have no problem with him playing with dirt or bathing in mud, it’s fun. I did it, he can do it. But I think the important part isn’t just letting them be kids, it’s also teaching them to be clean/responsible kids afterwards. I want to teach E that after the fun comes the work. After the dirt, comes the soap. After playing with yogurt, comes wiping it clean.
You might think I’m being a bit to…I don’t know what you think, many adjectives can be used to describe me at this moment. But I’m not, really I’m not. Yes Ethan is a baby, but he’s a smart baby. Right now he knows how to dump his basket of toys and he knows that when I’m putting them up-play time is over, so he helps. He’s learning. Now is the time to teach them. When they’re small and eager to absorb everything. Not when they’re 5-6 and they think it’s the Moms job to clean. Because then you become a screaming Mom.
You can’t expect your kids to just know things, they learn with practice. For example, I was told that the bed we have in our room is dangerously tall and should opt to just keep the mattress on the floor, and avoid having Ethan fall off of it. Umm, yeah no. At 9 months we taught him to turn himself in a way that he slides down feet first. He learned. We watch him every single time he try’s to get off because you can never really be too careful. He did slide down a bit to fast at the beginning, but now he knows how to get down slower. A little time and practice is a small price to pay, as opposed to a visit to the ER.
I’m not saying I’ll leave him in the room and expect him to put up his toys or just tell to him get off from the bed. I’m saying I’ll sit with him and say “okay sweetie, it’s time to clean up”, because he’ll learn, after a couple of times you create a routine, and kids need a routine.
It’s all hard work and dedication, its commitment. I can’t say I don’t forget sometimes, but eventually I remember we left the toys out so we go back and pick them up later.
So yes, I will let Ethan play with dirt. I will let Ethan smash blueberries on his face. Because I know Ethan enjoys cleaning up afterwards just as much.
And if all else fails I’ll have Barney’s “Clean Up Song” on replay.
Mexan Mommy 