zealousness 4 Zealousness Fourth Edition Winter & Spring 2017 | Page 69

tempted many a time. I often wondered whether they even understood a thing. So when my daughter re- cognized the star of Macy’s, it was an eureka mo- ment for me. It is the beauty about early learning. Every milestone is a miracle, just like their first step, their first word. when my daughter asks my husband “What color are the bubbles daddy?” and he has no answer, but he does when she says “They are rainbow color”, I am learning. We are learning. Parenting is way more different, more informed, than it was maybe a few years back before the internet The joys of childhood are a constant awe. The messy revolution. Attachment parenting, bento lunch boxes moments with play-doh, staring at a centipede in the - there’s a new term coming up every day. Prodigies backyard, eating a strawberry straight from the farm; are becoming more of a norm than an exception. Mensa ages are lowering day by day. Being a parent every moment is a learning moment. is a whole different game today. It could lead you into Today my three year olds can read a few words, know a whirlwind of competitiveness. what a ‘chrysalis’ is, can subtilize, and know the na- mes of the planets and so on. But so what, most Are we putting too much pressure on our kids? With three year olds do it, and even more. All I want for my a lot of caution it must be said that at times we do. kids is that they love to learn and are thirsty for more Every other day there are reports of prodigies who didn’t succeed as they grew up, and blamed their in walks of life. parents, and then some who succeed too. We must More than anything else, it has given me a lot of plea- make sure that childhood is not lost in all this. If we sure. I learn more from them on any given day. Loo- manage to sideline these things, then early learning king at the world from their perspective is a great (now I know why its not called early teaching) is a experience. When my son opens an envelope and path every parent must take. Give our kids the wealth ask me “Mommy what is this?” and I say it’s an en- of learning, make them rich forever. For no one can velope, and he says “No mommy, it’s a house”, or take it away from them. Ever! Winter / Spring 2017 | ZEALOUSNESS MAGAZINE |