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[georgiastorms]

Comments

[just_colleen]

Parenting and teaching are similar in this regard - everyone who has never done it has all kinds of ideas about how it should be done. *L*

I know that is not really appropos in this case but it reminded me of that. *L*

I cannot believe anyone reads Dick and Jane anymore. It sounds to me like they don't do much reading with her at ALL, really. But I will side with the lady on ONE thing - I HATE Junie B. Jones!!!! I have never refused to let Leah read them, in fact she has several, but I just cringe when she reads them - all that improper grammar, etc. Sometimes when we are reading together I make fun of the crazy errors and Leah does too so I know she knows the difference.

Anyhow, she sounds like a toxic person. I have a SIL who infuriates me in much the same way with her know-it-all ways. She even wrote a parenting column for the local paper for a while, meanwhile her son (Leah's age) is a little devil.

[georgiastorms]

I know "Junie B. Jones" isn't the greatest reading material, but she enjoys it and it encourages her to read. I know she knows which words are not proper grammer because she is a little stinker, she is always correcting people when they use words like "ain't and ya'll". I do not think this woman even sits down and helps her child with her homework. She has that old fashioned attitude, that is why we are paying teachers. She told me she is going to have a meeting with the teachers and the principal and blame them for their failure in teaching her child to read. She is failing all subjects and they want to move her back to Kindergarten. She told me that her daughter blows off doing her homework? I ? that . Why is she not sitting down with her each night and helping her and encouraging her if she is having problems? *shake head*

[millysdaughter]

Old fashioned? NOT
I am the old bat here
and really crabby
and it actually troubles me to see this school sending homework with first graders. And I do still enjoy reading Junie B Jones--it was not around when my girls were that age, but smallbear was tutoring a little girl in the summer reading program at the library this summer, and those Junie B books were a great tool to get the kid interested. She had no problem being able to identify with the grammer and language mixups by JunieB.

[georgiastorms]

I agree. Homework for first graders is a little much. When I asked the First grade teachers why they send homework home, their response was that they want the kids to be familiarized with the concept of doing homework at home. They think that it is too much of a shock when they get homework in 2nd and 3rd grade and then they blow it off because they are not disciplined to do it. I am sure there are other reasons, but I personally do not think it is necessary. My child has had homework since Kindergarden, can you believe that?

[honeyswtrose]

I do believe Shelly is the one with the problem. Mothers like that feel inadequate so they target others with what they preceive to be their faults.

Blow her off. I wouldn't even talk to her except a hello when you have to.

[georgiastorms]

Thank you. That is exactly what I have been doing the majority of the time. I must run into her at least two three times a day. I basically wave or smile and if she says something to me, I give her a smile and a very short reply back. I guess the reason she hasn't accepted some of our offers for playdates etc. in the past was because she was afraid I would damage her childs self esteem or possibly use a slang word or two around her (improper verbage) and that is just not acceptable to her! Haha!

[millysdaughter]

I have a problem with this big "self esteem" cult that is the current fashion right now.
My kids are a bit older than yours, but I have met your "shelly" many times over the years. They basically come out and totally accuse you of "doing it wrong" with your kid, when the problem they are blaming you for being wrong about is a problem for THEIR kid, not for yours!
I do not/did not ever really censor the library books for the kids, but I did make a point to read at least one of their book choices randomly pulled from the stack. My goal was to read ALL the books they brought home, but I missed out on many of them...however, even reading just the beginning, the ending, and a random 4 or 5 pages in the center will put you in the loop on what kind of book it is.
I like Junie B Jones. No, it is not "great literature" but it IS fun...and it inspires kids to read FOR fun.

[georgiastorms]

Exactly! Isn't all about encouraging your children to read what interests them (as long as it is age appropriate). I think that she needs to figure out that the reason her kid isn't making the effort to read is because she doesn't enjoy the books that she has been given to read. Emily may not read "great literature" but I think that will come in time when they are older. Who writes that great of literature for children these days except some of the classics? And then I found my older daughter not interested in reading "Tom Saywer", "Laura Ingalls Wilder books" until she was at least in the third grade. Thank you for your supportive comments. That makes me feel so much better. :)

[trisha77]

I'm sorry but this woman sounds like an educated Idiot! She seems to have issues in her life and striking out at you, seems to make her life to be validated. I would keep my distance as much as possible. I know our children need to have friends and socialize, but the old saying you are judged by the company you keep, I think is true. Not just in judging but how much of this is rubbing Emily wrong too? You are a good mother and care about your child, I haven't the foggiest how this woman can condon her attitudes, and try to pass judgement on anyone.

[georgiastorms]

"Educated idiot". Love it!!!! That is exactly what she is. She is totally out to lunch when it comes to knowing what children like and dislike. I have been so good. Yesterday when I went to pick Emily up from school, I made sure I was a little late so I would not have to run into her. AS I was driving towards the school, she was already leaving with her child. I merely waved a "hello" at her. Emily came home yesterday from school very upset at Shelby. They had an assembly for Veteran's day and while they were in the assembly, Shelby poked and prodded at Emily with her little flag, trying to annoy her. When Emily went to poke her back, the teacher looked over at Emily, took her flag from her and did not give it back. Shelby looked at Emily and giggled. I guess she thought that was humerous or something. Little witch! Emily told me last night that she doesn't feel that Shelby is that great of a friend. I am glad she is figuring it out on her own.

[ljandmewt]

Wow, what can I possibly say that everyone hasn't already said?

I think you're a great mother! And I really feel sorry for that kid.

*hugs*

[georgiastorms]

Thanks. I had to give myself a little self talk, sometimes spilling it all out helps. I decided not to let someone else make me feel like a terrible mother when I put 150% into parenting my kids. I do feel sorry for this little girl because her mother seems to think that it is important to teach children how to manipulate. That is basically the advice she was trying to give me, teach my child to be a manipulator or take a chance at her becoming a loser. Nope, not my child. I would rather see her struggle through life than to have a personality like that.