We are going on week three here in India and the kids are finding it easier to be here. They still miss their friends but they don't seem to miss the other comforts of home as much as they used to. We never watch tv here other than an occasional movie on the weekend. They also don't have most of their toys and books that are coming over on the sea shipment which won't arrive until late October. They only have the few items that would fit in their carry on luggage. But, they keep busy with friends and their Nintendo DS while they wait for their toys to arrive.
I have always considered myself a pretty laid back parent. I am strict about certain things like wearing a helmet for bike riding or making sure that they don't even go near the pool without an adult present, but for other things I have always felt that my kids are going to learn better if they go off on their own and make up their own games and settle playground squabbles without the interference of adults.
What I have found is that as laid back as I might think I am, the parents here in India make me look like a mommy warden! There are kids as young as 5 and 6 out riding bikes alone (without helmets) and going to the clubhouse pool without any supervision at all. There is a lifeguard at the pool, but I am not convinced that he is actually equipped to save anyone - he guards the pool in a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and sneakers. The kids take off in the morning to find their friends and they come back for dinner when it starts to get dark and the parents may not see them in between. My kids are given much more freedom here then they had at home. They can take their scooters to the Palm Meadows store to buy a drink and some candy and they can scooter to their friends houses even if those houses are across the development. I think there are about 400 houses in the development so it isn't huge, but much bigger than the radius of one street that they were used to at home. But, I have not given in on the pool yet. If they want to go to the pool I need to be there. I think that is fair.
The other adjustments the kids need to make is with the traffic here. Even though we are in a gated community, there is still much more traffic than the kids are used to and the driving skill is just as bad within the development as it is outside. Cars are on the wrong side of the road or passing each other on dangerous corners without concern for kids on scooters or walking. The kids need to be much more aware of their surroundings here. Even on the school bus! The first day they got on the school bus, Jameson was the last child on and the bus started moving (which here means it peeled out of the parking area) before Jameson even made it to the seats. Kids are flying around the bus while trying to get to their seats and no one seems to be bothered by it. It is amazing to me that there hasn't been a significant accident or injury to a child with the way these busses operate. But, the kids adapt and figure out how to be safe within the changing environment.
I am excited that my kids are moving around on their own without wanting me to be with them all the time. They are doing a great job of meeting other kids, entertaining themselves outside, and basically experiencing life without the interference of electronics (at least most of the time). But I still worry about them. I guess even the most laid back mom is going to worry about her kids.
I have always considered myself a pretty laid back parent. I am strict about certain things like wearing a helmet for bike riding or making sure that they don't even go near the pool without an adult present, but for other things I have always felt that my kids are going to learn better if they go off on their own and make up their own games and settle playground squabbles without the interference of adults.
What I have found is that as laid back as I might think I am, the parents here in India make me look like a mommy warden! There are kids as young as 5 and 6 out riding bikes alone (without helmets) and going to the clubhouse pool without any supervision at all. There is a lifeguard at the pool, but I am not convinced that he is actually equipped to save anyone - he guards the pool in a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and sneakers. The kids take off in the morning to find their friends and they come back for dinner when it starts to get dark and the parents may not see them in between. My kids are given much more freedom here then they had at home. They can take their scooters to the Palm Meadows store to buy a drink and some candy and they can scooter to their friends houses even if those houses are across the development. I think there are about 400 houses in the development so it isn't huge, but much bigger than the radius of one street that they were used to at home. But, I have not given in on the pool yet. If they want to go to the pool I need to be there. I think that is fair.
The other adjustments the kids need to make is with the traffic here. Even though we are in a gated community, there is still much more traffic than the kids are used to and the driving skill is just as bad within the development as it is outside. Cars are on the wrong side of the road or passing each other on dangerous corners without concern for kids on scooters or walking. The kids need to be much more aware of their surroundings here. Even on the school bus! The first day they got on the school bus, Jameson was the last child on and the bus started moving (which here means it peeled out of the parking area) before Jameson even made it to the seats. Kids are flying around the bus while trying to get to their seats and no one seems to be bothered by it. It is amazing to me that there hasn't been a significant accident or injury to a child with the way these busses operate. But, the kids adapt and figure out how to be safe within the changing environment.
I am excited that my kids are moving around on their own without wanting me to be with them all the time. They are doing a great job of meeting other kids, entertaining themselves outside, and basically experiencing life without the interference of electronics (at least most of the time). But I still worry about them. I guess even the most laid back mom is going to worry about her kids.
Sounds like the 1950's and 60's - when I was a kid I understand that the world has changed a lot and its great that you are able to let them have a little more freedom.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how bad the traffic is - from what I have seen on videos