Wry Baby & Toddler, Wry Family

Parenting: Then and Now

Mummy and Willy

Then: my mum holding my baby. Now: my mum stimulating my baby’s visual recognition skills

 

“Messy play” – or “mucking around with his Weetabix”? While the basic tenets of parenting remain the same through the ages, the phrases I come out with sometimes make my mum look at me like I’m bonkers. But think about it, a lot of the labels we use these days are a teeny bit daft.

THEN: Baby “touched things”.

NOW: Baby does “sensory play.”

 

THEN: Baby “picked up some food”.

NOW: Baby does “baby-led weaning”.

 

THEN: Baby “went back to sleep”.

NOW: Baby “self-soothes”.

 

THEN: Baby “bent over”.

NOW: Baby “does baby yoga”.

 

THEN: Baby ”heard something.”

NOW: Baby “receives auditory stimulation”.

 

THEN: Baby “jumped on the sofa cushions”.

NOW: Baby “does soft play”.

 

THEN: Baby “picked up dangerously small stuff”.

NOW: Baby “practises fine motor skills”.

 

THEN: Baby “shook a rattle”.

NOW: Baby “does Monkey Music”.

 

THEN: Baby “used crayons”.

NOW: Baby “does mark-making.”

 

THEN: Baby “battered a toy into submission”.

NOW: Baby “problem solves”.

 

THEN: Baby “whacked something that was thrust in its face”.

NOW: Baby “exhibits hand-to-eye coordination”.

 

THEN: Baby “pushed a car along the floor saying brrm brrm”.

NOW: Baby “practises imaginative play”.

 

THEN: Baby “walked”.

NOW: Baby “mastered gross motor skills”.

 

THEN: Baby “was naughty”.

NOW: Baby “explores boundaries”.

 

THEN: Baby “was told off”.

NOW: Baby “gets descriptive praise”.

 

THEN: Baby “watched TV”*. * For the one hour a day that there were children’s programme in the Dark Ages, as my mum never fails to stress.

NOW: Baby “rescued mummy’s mental wellbeing via the medium of Peppa”.

I’m not saying who’s right or wrong – all I know is, 24-hour Nick Junior is progress – nay, a human right – and I’m all for it – call it what you will!

 

 
If you really liked it, I’d really appreciate your vote to put me through to the final of BritMums’ Brilliance in Blogging awards. I’m very excited to be on the shortlist for the Laugh Category – all you have to do is put your name, email and click by ‘Wry Mummy’ here.
 


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