Because Mama Knows Best!

So Adi is 2.4 years old now, which is standard school starting age and people have already started asking me which school he goes to. No, Adi hasn’t joined any school so far as we are going to take our own time in enrolling him in one. The questions that pop up next are…

1. Children his age might be smarter than him, is he learning at home?

Of course he is learning at home – we sing rhymes together, we read books together (sometimes), we play with alphabets and he recognizes so many of them already. We paint, we draw. What more do you want from a toddler at this age? There, that’s your answer.

2. How will he learn to socialize?

Hmmm…Well he socializes not so badly with other kids he meets, he takes some time but he adjusts and plays…so I am not worried. He might take some time in school but he will settle.

3. When will you start looking for schools?

Well, I am sure we all mothers know when our kids are ready. In the same way, I will just know when he is ready for school, why should I stress about it?

So, these are the common questions that I face everyday and I just answer myself instead of explaining others. Recently I visited a paediatrician (we are looking for a paediatrician, we have recently moved and finding a paediatrician who matches our frequency is so difficult) who asked me some intrusive questions, but I chose to keep my calm and nod there.
So we met this paediatrician as suggested by my relative when Adi had fever. But apart from prescribing the meds she asked us general questions. Here’s how the conversation went:

Paediatrician: Are you breastfeeding?
Me: Yes
Paediatrician: Why are you still breastfeeding?
Me: I have decided to go for extended breastfeeding.
Paediatrician: Why would you do that? Later on, mothers find it difficult to separate from the child and do not want to wean.
Me: It’s definitely not like that and I will wean when he’s ready.

Part 2:

Paediatrician: Is your son toilet trained?
Me: Not 100%, sometimes he goes to the loo, other times he does not.
Paediatrician: Children should be trained as early as possible otherwise schools won’t take them.
Me: (thinking) Really?? Do you want me to torture my child if he is not toilet ready? No, I will let my child take his own time. There is no hurry, I will let him decide and if the school won’t take him, I will better wait.

I feel these things cannot be forced in a child, I know as my boy is growing he will slowly learn. As far as breastfeeding is concerned, he will wean himself instead of me using those harsh methods to wean him. As mothers we know our child and we will do things at the right time. I dislike people telling me what to do and what not to. So far things have been fine and I am pretty sure we will manage everything at the right time. Every child is different and they have their own limits and pace. I am not in a hurry to teach him everything. I want to take things slowly whether it’s schooling, or toilet training. Just because the school wants it or the paediatrician says it, I am not going change things. My child will give me clues and I will trust my instincts.

I am Priyanka, full time mommy to a 2.4 year old Atharva. I’m very old school, I believe in breastfeeding, cloth diapers and natural birth. The last three years have a changed a lot in me, I feel very transformed as a person. I have known various sides of me in this process from pregnancy to motherhood. From cooking to sewing and many more, I have explored many creative activities and still exploring some more…who says being a mother takes away everything? I have gained a lot, learnt a lot. I like to share my stories and chat with mommies. I’m also a social media enthusiast and enjoy blogging at Dailydose.