Random Thoughts: Follow Up

Week 26: We had an ultrasound this morning to check on Le Bud’s growth and fluid levels, and everything is looking most excellent. Plenty of fluid, and he is measuring 26 weeks and 3 days, which is right on for where we are. His estimated weight is already more than 2 pounds, which I am impressed by at this point. Flora and Kate were both little babies (6 lb. 2 oz. and 5 lb. 10 oz., respectively). We’ll probably take another look in, oh, say six weeks to make sure things continue on course.

Peeking at him in there was fun. I think he is going to have Dan’s nose.

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My Twitter pal @mattieflap (who also blogs over here) had a good point in her comment to my “Bad Mommy Moment” post, that kids need to know the limits. I didn’t demonstrate it in the best way that Friday night, but now we all have a reference point.

And I agree that limits and boundaries are important for children. I think it makes them feel safe (I could probably find some kind of study to back that up, but I’m too lazy to look right now). As @mattieflap puts it in her comment, talking about her grandparents with stricter limits: “I always knew where I stood, where the line was, and what was and was not appropriate. Therefore, I could have fun within those boundaries.”

My parents had definite boundaries for us, too, with solid consequences for going over them. I wouldn’t say my parents were super-strict (although I may have said that as a teen), and I think the three of us kids turned out the better for it. (Though they could have been stricter with Dr. Sis, IMO.) (Kidding, dad. Kinda.)

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My BIL-IL did stop by and commented about the LPS Wii game, and he made a good point, too, that we parents have to correct the cultural tendency to espouse irresponsibility (and/or FUN! with no consequences). Video games and TV shows are entertainment. I guess my rant or worry is more about the fact that I wonder what my children are internalizing. That is what I want to know and/or counteract if I have to. I don’t want Flora acting like Candace from Phineas and Ferb when she’s around a boy she likes. I don’t want Kate thinking that the purpose of money is to spend it. (The purpose of money is to pay bills!) So that’s the position I’m coming from.

I wish I’d never even started this book! Believe me, when it comes to marketing to children, ignorance is bliss. As a girl, I was not as relentlessly targeted as children are now. I don’t mean to sound like a fuddy-duddy, but it’s true. We had Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and the Electric Company, and gender roles were pretty much relegated to grown-up media. Not any more; now we have Sprout, Nick Jr., and the Disney channel and all kinds of shows with all kinds of messaging (subtle or overt) about being a “real” boy or girl. It’s exhausting to keep up with!