So I’ve worked up a grid of things that Katie does and needs to do. And yes, there is a difference. I need to get Kate’s teeth brushed on a regular basis, but she doesn’t need to play ball every day. The purpose of most of this chart is to make sure that I’m mixing it up for Kate–that she’s getting a variety of activity and that I’m not just taking the easy route out each day (ie. shove the same old puzzle in front of her).
I guess parents do things like this to try to be better parents. Some skeptic would probably write off such a list as parenting by numbers (or by check-list), but the simple fact is that I don’t remember all the things that I need to do to make Kate’s life balanced and interesting and my parenting instinct is not developed (or sophisticated?) enough to do all this by instinct. I have to be very deliberate, or there’s a good chance she could spend her childhood sitting in front of the TV.
Now, this list is totally secular. It doesn’t include all those good Deuteronomy 6 things, which could very well be another list, but which I really don’t think would be part of a list as they reflect how we live and behave daily…just with talking. Though it might be a good exercise–just as a stormboarding exercise.
