Met a mom last week with 3 kids under 3

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Met a mom last week with 3 kids under 3
1350
Sat, 03-25-2006 - 9:59am

A 2 year old and 17 month old twins. First she accomplished *that* through two surrogates! Wonderful what modern medicine can do.
Anyway, she doesnt work full time, she consults to several companies so is out of the home one full day then a few hours a day on other days. Sometimes for work, sometimes to go to the gym, etc.
She has a full time live in nanny, and two part time nannies. Essentially they always have someone with them and the kids. She feels she needs two to properly care for her three.
I immediately thought of all the comments her lifestyle would elicit from this board.
The day she and I met she had just come from a 2 hour session at the gym, and was then heading off to go do some shopping.
BTW, she's a complete rock star in industry, having 'retired' a year ago after a 30 year career that took her right up to the top of corporate America so she's definetly *earned* her right to do whatever the heck she wants.
But anyway, she feels she is a super hands on mom. I was curious what others would think?

MM

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:55am

So how is not giving your children the chance to practice or experience less serious situations better than a little practice?


What is your personal background?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:57am

<>

Yes. But it isn't so rare for the BEST solution to be homeschooling.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:58am
But I have more than enough time to discuss serious parenting concerns/issues with each of my children.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:58am

"Just by virtue of being in class everyday, children are being socialized."

It's awfully hard to get a chance to socialise if a child is supposed to sit quietly and listen to the teacher or else do work on his/her own. This is the trend, unfortunately, in many schools in the U.S.. I appreciate the fact that the Swedish school system still considers socialisation to be a major part of the school experience and puts the time and energy into supporting that philosphy.

"If gifted in ALL areas, the average school would allow him to skip. "

Skipping is not the answer for many gifted children because gifted children (especially those who are gifted in all areas) learn very differently and at a much quicker pace, regardless of whether they have been skipped or not. Skipping a grade tends to serve bright students who are somewhat ahead of the curve much better than truly gifted students.

"But then he would look to private schools."

Assuming that is even an option financially speaking...that's a big assumption.

"My understanding though is that even the gifted child is not gifted in all areas but instead needs regular-level instruction in some areas."

Not true for all gifted children, some really are gifted in all areas.

"Even Mia Farrow's son simply enrolled in college and did just fine socially."

It doesn't surprise me at all, but it doesn't mean that all gifted children would fare as well. As I said at the beginning of this thread, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each gifted child has to be considered individually and each will need an individual solution that will depend on the family's individual circumstances.

"Don't you think it is extremely rare that the only solution will be homeschooling?"

Truly gifted children are pretty rare as it is. I have no idea how rare it is that a gifted child would do best with homeschooling.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2005
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:59am

<> They do during the regular school day, which is all I said. That's a lot of hours, a lot of days in the year and a lot of years. It simply cannot be made up by enrolling your children in pay-for sports programs (many hs'ers can't play on public school teams) or, for example, Girl Scouts who meet once a week for 1 - 2 hours.

<>

I am entitled to an opinion on a debate board, and I have only been speaking to the facts concerning the socialization aspect and also homeschoolers' own education and lack of a teachers certification.

<> Everyone here agrees. But I think you've amplified the negatives unnecessarily. In fact, you always seem to cite them when the discussion turns toward why you are hs'ing. I give your "negatives" so little weight in light of the benefits of socializing with the public on a day to day, year after year basis.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:00am

So basically your POV is that if you have

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:02am
They do it in the bathrooms during youth group at some local churches too.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:05am
The stakes are much, much higher at 18 than at any time previous.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:07am
I guess that means my post was correct, because you didn't respond to its substance.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:10am

"She can call herself hands on. Its her own definition."


But that's what we do here.

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