tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post7107581093457975042..comments2023-11-26T01:21:35.860-07:00Comments on Mormon Mommy Writers and Friends: Saturday So What: sMotheringMarianne (Mare) Baker Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663143060069193124noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-19547746718103866672013-01-21T09:15:27.366-07:002013-01-21T09:15:27.366-07:00Thanks guys. I am really starting to believe I mad...Thanks guys. I am really starting to believe I made the right choice. Especially after last night's nightmare about the rat king from the nutcracker. I think Civil rights will need to wait a while for this kiddoBetsy Schowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17456220738320186343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-10319679275144245362013-01-19T23:46:16.761-07:002013-01-19T23:46:16.761-07:00I believe in honesty with children, and I believe ...I believe in honesty with children, and I believe that children can learn about difficult topics in a safe environment. But every child is different, and what constitutes a safe environment will be different according to the child's needs at a given age and emotional maturity level. You know your daughter and you get to help her navigate the scary waters at this time in her life. Someday you can help her understand the more difficult parts of this period of history, but it is okay if that day is not today. <br /><br />Even in my graduate classes there was a wide reaction from students to novels with violence, difficult language, and sex - some were sensitive to images in movies but not so much to words, others the opposite, some always sensitive, some rarely sensitive. In graduate school the sensitive ones do not have their parents right there to help them, but in kindergarten, it is a blessing that they do. Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18390549833480894919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-32449476869318119942013-01-19T13:25:08.220-07:002013-01-19T13:25:08.220-07:00"There will be time enough to learn that the ..."There will be time enough to learn that the world is not really full of rainbows and unicorns. It doesn't need to happen in kindergarten."<br /><br />Amen.Tanya Hanamaikaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00809401980346889869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-31887584389784805532013-01-19T09:52:40.140-07:002013-01-19T09:52:40.140-07:00I think you did the right thing also. I’ve always ...I think you did the right thing also. I’ve always been a proponent of the “honesty is the best policy” theory with my kids, but they have always seemed emotionally capable to handle most things, as long as I explain them in a way they can understand. If, however, one of them had the kinds of anxiety issues you are talking about, I would absolutely do the same thing you did. And there are certainly things I choose not to share or explain to my kids until they specifically ask about them. <br /><br />So stay the course, mama! Only you know your babies. :-)KaseyQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-85340647889137615972013-01-19T09:48:00.949-07:002013-01-19T09:48:00.949-07:00As a teacher, but not a mother (though I am a high...As a teacher, but not a mother (though I am a high school teacher) I would say you did the right thing. I'm not entirely sure why a kindergarten teacher is having her students read a book about Martin Luther King Jr. in the first place, but it is certainly in your rights as a parent to say "My child is not ready for this." It saddens me that her teacher did not listen to your concerns as a parent and instead made you feel so low.<br />I think the most important thing here is that you were uncomfortable reading this book to your child and you didn't ignore that feeling. That was the right thing to do. As the parent, you certainly acted in the best interest of your child. You will know when she is ready to learn the sadder truths of life and if now is not the time, then you did right by not forcing it.<br />You followed the Spirit, though you may not have known you were doing it, and that is always the right thing to do.Eviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03062119939910770114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814771751990061325.post-25700505091874932682013-01-19T08:52:02.109-07:002013-01-19T08:52:02.109-07:00I think you did absolutely the right thing. There...I think you did absolutely the right thing. There are a lot of beautiful and poignant picture books like this out there, but "picture book" does not mean "one-size-fits-all children's book." I wouldn't introduce that book until the children are actually learning about the civil rights movement. I'm not sure how early that is these days--for me it was 7th grade-- but it sure isn't kindergarten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com