Recently a question was posed to me and some other moms about safety and "free-range" parenting. Where do you let your kids play and what is a healthy level of fear when letting them play outside?
Well, for me this is a struggle. I grew up in a small town, about 800 people, and I don't really remember adults hovering over us a lot (or ever). I always felt safe as my cousins and I played in the backyard, the frontyard, and rode our bikes all around town till the sun set. I mean, I wasn't supposed to the cross the highway, but what my dad didn't know, I couldn't get in trouble for, right? But now I live in a big city-and in a more aware society. We talk more openly about kidnappings, pedophiles, and other scary things. In some ways, ignorance is bliss, but we don't have that choice anymore. For the most part, I think we all want the innocence of childhood that we had for our children, but something happens when you get older. You watch the news, read the paper, log onto social networks, and you are bombarded by the bad in the world. And then all of sudden, every child is your child. Every mother who has held her baby, kissed the boo boos, chased away the monsters, is you. And you hurt for these mothers, fathers, and children; and pray that the world becomes a better place. But while we can't completely erase the bad, there is some good. pri.org reports that world homicide rates are down and psychologytoday.com states that violence against women and children have also decreased. And according to connectsavannah.com, while we believe this may be the most crime ridden time in American history, it's not. In 1960 there were 161 homicides per 100,000 people, from there it continued to increase until its peak in 1991 at 758, but since then, it has decreased steadily. And in 2013 it was at 368. So my generation actually grew up in a more dangerous time than that of my children. So, just how "free range" can we be? That's for you to decide. Someone suggested arming a kid with a whistle, others just keep guard at the window. Either way, what works for your family may not work for another and that's ok. We all want the same for our children, a safe space to explore, play, and create. We may not be able to chase the monsters away completely, but we can sure as hell try and sometimes that's just enough. Peace, Anne ,
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Well, my little baby is one year old! I talked before about how I was dealing with this and I am feeling better now. I think I have accepted that he is not going to be a little baby forever...I mean, he'll always be my baby, but I know he must grow...*le sigh*. Anyway, to celebrate his birthday, I want to share some of my favorite pages from his baby album. Wanting to make a unique album, I thought I would do something DIY. But I know I only have so much time and I needed something that I could create and do it fast. So I used the Project Life App and it has been wonderful! While I was on maternity leave, I took every opportunity I had to hold L and let him nurse and sleep in my arms. And the Project Life App was right there at my fingertips keeping me busy and helping me to stay on top of his album. Now I just need to start printing the pages and put them in a physical album. I can't wait! For his album, I used the Hello Baby Boy Edition by Stampin' Up for the bulk of it, and then added other kits for holidays, and sometimes just for a little more variety. If you have any questions about the App or this kit, please reach out to me, I would love to help! This page was the one constant I used throughout the album to mark monthly birthdays. I kept the same layout and then changed the number, text, and pics around it.
Well, I've got weeks 1-4 in the bag for Project 52. It's going pretty well. I may not always have a lot to document, but thats ok. Sometimes I put pressure on myself to take "just the right photo" or make sure it's interesting, but this is really teaching me to find the beauty in the everyday. I am really trying to step outside the box and be more creative with my picture taking, so I think this format is good practice for that. So today, I just want to share my layouts with you. Enjoy!
Hello All! I hope you all had a wonderful week. Really uneventful in my neck of the woods; just a another week in the books. Today, I just want to reflect on stages of life. Lately, I've been feeling so weird. I couldn't identify it, but I felt like my feelings were coming from a place directed at my son. He is growing more independent of me, and exploring his surroundings as he continues to better his walking and learning skills. I almost felt as if he didn't need me anymore. I know, a little dramatic....I mean he is only 11 months old, of course he still needs me. But it almost made me feel guilty. Why? Because in the process of him becoming less of an extension of me, I am becoming less of an extension of him. I am starting to feel normal again. Not this woman who just sacrificed her body, and so much more, for her child. I want to focus on those things I left behind. From the big things - moving him out of our bedroom and into his own, to the little things - getting a pedicure every once in a while. So, as his 1st birthday approaches, I will try to celebrate how far we've come and the joy that he has brought into our lives and not so much on the fact that he's not my itty bitty baby anymore. (Cue the tears and sad violin music!) And I'll leave you with this: Cherish those little handprints, they are filled with playful spririt and curiosity.
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Hello!
I'm Anne! Follow me as I go through life as a new mom and soon-to-be wife. Always looking for a creative outlet, I want to share all my ideas with you here at Life by Design! Archives
February 2018
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