I have been reading up on parenting lately. Not nearly as much as when I first brought him home (“What the hell do I do with this thing?”) but just enough to make sure I’m on the right track.
I am on the right track. He is developing at just above average for his age, has a great sense of humor and we have been lucky so far on the tantrum issue (apparently, it can be worse!).

One thing I guess I’m doing wrong is letting him watch a lot of TV. This kid loves TV, and I love getting shit done around the house without constantly worrying that he is into something. I turn on Nick Jr and know that when he’s quiet, 9 out of 10 times it’s because he is watching cartoons intently and happily.

 

Moose A. Moose and Zee

 

 

Now, before I get any shit for it from you, too… My son can count to twenty in English, ten in Spanish. He knows what an octopus is, he hums scales, he can say things in English and Spanish, and sometimes Chinese. He knows his alphabet and knows the lyrics to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” . He understands that it is fall and is going to be winter, and tells me when it’s foggy or cloudy or sunny outside. Do you think I am teaching him this stuff?

I am grateful for TV for guiding me in this. Much of the time I am nearby and he is playing with toys with the TV on in the background. I’m there to answer questions and reinforce what they are teaching him. I am grateful that Blue and DJ Lance Rock and Diego and Kai Lan are around to tell this kid what’s up. It is exhausting being a parent. But it’s magic when I say, “Muno and Brobee eat that, why don’t you try it?” or “I think Baby Jaguar is going to take his nap, let’s go take one too, we’ll see him when we wake up.”

He eats well, sleeps well, plays with his toys and watches TV. He loves to play with other kids, but it’s not always practical for us. He calls his stuffed animals his friends and answers questions from shows like Blue’s Clues where participation is encouraged; I think it satisfies a need for him, in the same way checking Facebook satisfies a social need for me.

So I ask, what the hell is wrong with that? I can see when he’s older, limiting TV so he can be active. But what’s wrong with TV when it’s educational and it makes him happy?

I imagine these are the same parents who wear their babies and breastfeed until the kids are three and co-sleep and sign their kids up for classes and only buy wooden toys and only buy organic whole foods.

Me…. I let him cry it out when he was a baby and he slept through the night by 6 months old. Couldn’t breastfeed after 6 months and he turned out just fine. He plays with plastic toys and hasn’t died yet… eats a happy meal once every two weeks and hey, we get a free toy out of it. What the hell is wrong with a happy, normal little kid?

I can’t wait til he’s in pre-school so I can see how far ahead of the game he is. He is already reading small words… I know 3 and 4 year olds who can’t even do that. Maybe I’m not parent of the year, but my kid is going to be somebody. Even if he watched too much TV as a toddler…