Distancing Our Children

Why is it that we have normalized detaching children from their parents at an early age? Why are we trying to them independent at 6 months old?

It is incredibly healthy for a child to be nurtured and tended to for their first couple years of life. They are growing, learning, developing. Not complete coddling for their entire childhood, we are not raising spoiled brats. Building the foundational blocks of trust with them as their parents, providers, and teachers. People they should be able to rely on for knowledge, help, and guidance.

We have begun self soothing way too early, switching off breastfeeding way too early, and insisting on public school way too early if at all. The early years are the ones that they absorb the most. Our children should be outside, learning through all of their senses. Gathering vital core information about growth, the way things work, and family importance. Bonding with their family, siblings, etc.

Instead we send them off to school at as early as 5yrs old where they hopefully learn bare minimum basics that don't help them truly grow but memorize. Then they continue on for 8 hrs a day memorizing what is deemed (by the educational board) as "worthy" facts for their future. Knowledge is learning something, memorization is simply repeating and performing.

Food for thought, teachers them to know gratitude for the world around them. Teach them forgiveness, compassion, and inner strength. Teach them how to express themselves verbally. Teach them how to grow a garden and wash their own clothes. Teach them time management. So much more to be taught that is not in a classroom and not gained by be pushed away for independence so young.