Curriculum, Schmuriculum: The Trouble With Preschool (Rant 3 of 3)

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Is it Friday already?  Well, I won't take up much of your time with my third and final (I swear!) rant about preschool, but I do have another shattered nerve to piece together, and since you're here, and I'm here, let's chat, shall we?

Okay, so my first issue was about force-feeding hot dogs and grape soda to unhappy vegetarian kids who deserved a treat.

The second was about cooties and Ebola, and their relation to the Almighty Vaccine!

And now, on a much lighter note (not really), today's rant is about...

Drumrolllllllllll....

The general approach to preschool learning.

Damnit, Georgia, can a public preschool kid get their learn on? Pretty please?

I'm not saying children in Pre-K should be getting daily home work, or learning how to read chapter books using speed-reading methods.  And I do get that you have to meet each child where they are and in many cases, 4 year olds haven't even mastered the alphabet, much less basic two and three letter words.  To be honest though, I think that's ridiculous. Yep, I sure do!  I've been around too may mothers and fathers who found the time, amidst two-job schedules and limited help from family, to teach their children the basics of reading and mathematics.  Dude, toddlers are total sponges! How difficult is it to introduce them to the letters of the alphabet and basic numbers (1-10)?

Unless there's a language barrier issue, I'm unconvinced that a parent cannot find time to expose their children to those elements prior to PreK.  If you feel differently, I'm definitely open to hearing some enlightening comments about it, but until then, I am where I am with it. If school in America is a public right, why doesn't it consider the actual public, instead of just creating a general approach that leaves many children bored and unchallenged with regard to academics?

One of the reasons parents send their children to preschool is so they can begin to interact with other children in a school setting.  We also send them so they can begin to create positive habits where school and learning are concerned.  How, pray tell, do they form these habits when the "fusion" curriculum takes a less-than-impressive approach to actually teaching our babies?  Again, I'm not saying they need "heavy" stuff.  Clearly, at 4 years old, coloring, free play, painting, singing, and even time on the playground, offer valuable opportunities to practice vital cognitive development skills -- I get that.  I also get that what we as adults call "play time" is really prime learning time for children, as they learn how to manipulate their world, get along with each other, and see themselves outside of their parents' eyes.  Check and check.  Duly noted.  STILL, I don't think our children are inherent dumbasses who are sure to implode should we take the chance and up the ante on what we introduce (academically) during preschool.  Children are so underestimated sometimes, and it's frustrating when you know that most children aren't being held to the standard they could easily uphold, if only someone would step outside the frikkin box and give them a chance to not just meet expectations, but exceed them.

Don't you think you're children could be doing more in school?

I guess it all boils down to me and Kris shutting our big fat mouths and working more diligently to be able to afford the sorts of luxuries (e.g. hassle-free lunch bringing and occasional academic challenges) for our daughters.  But until such time—and there will come such time—I'm still talking smack and no one can stop me!!

*That's my Mean-muggin' eyebrow raise* The arrows illustrate the particularly fearsome parts. #Duh

No Vaccine, No Peace: The Trouble With Preschool (Rant 2 of 3)

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"Ma'am, you'll need to get a letter signed in blood plasma from President Barack Obama's great-grandfather in order for us to accept your daughter.  I'm sorry, those are the rules."

Well, they might as well have said that, because the rigmarole we had to endure to put our perfectly healthy, all kindsa "Well Child" check ups passing, healthy weight, perfect vision/hearing having child into Pre-K was beyond insane! We choose not to vaccinate our daughters, not because we're hippies, or stupid, or uneducated, or conspiracy theorists, or ill-informed; we choose not to vaccinate them because our extensive research over the past six years has not returned any conclusive evidence that Marley and Sage's precious lives are at risk if they don't get the damn shots. Dude, that's all there is to it, I swear!

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"Sir, your child is sure to infect the rest of the children with Ebola hemorrhagic fever, followed by full-blown AIDS since she's not vaccinated. We'll have to bring in Sigourney Weaver to quarantine her if you don't leave our facility at once. I'm sorry, those are the rules."

Now let me clearly state that the goal of this post is NOT to dissuade you from vaccinating your child. Nor is this being written as a research piece with an index of resources on all things Wicked Vaccines.  Nope, it's NOT that.  It's just Akilah on her parenting-focused blog, sharing her two cents about why she and her hubby choose not to subject their children to the risks of vaccinations.  That's it.

*Saw how I threw grammatical precautions to the wind and put "not" in caps, bold and underlined it in efforts to illustrate its importance? Pretty Betty BadAss, right?*  Lady Redundant Woman would be so proud!

"Tha...tha..tha..that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger..." Um, not necessarily, Kanye!

There are many documented cases where vaccines served to weaken the immune systems of children, particularly those under the age of five.  What's more, vaccinating one's child does not have to be a hard-and-fast "pro-vax or no-vax" decision.  As a matter of fact, there is plenty of literature out there (Dr. Sears' The Vaccine Book, for example) that offer up the pros, cons, and details in lay terms so that you can decide on a long-term strategy for vaccines.

Breastfeeding, which is a highly-recognized form of immune system boosting, is just one way we can protect our children without the use of vaccines in their first few years.  Also, you may opt to create a strategic approach for when you will have your child vaccinated.   A separated/selective vaccine schedule may work best for you, so that's an option as well.  One of my favorite parenting authors and Integrative Medicine practitioners, Aviva Jill Romm, has an incredibly detailed book on vaccinations that is absolutely worth the read. 

There are traditionally (Western medicine) trained doctors who have come to realize, and confidently assert, that the decline in the number of deaths among children suffering from once rampant diseases (small-pox, tuberculosis, polio, diptheria, whooping cough, and tetanus) was not due to vaccinations. In fact, the decline started years before doctors starting pushing vaccines, and was due in large part to better living conditions over time (read: improved sanitation, being educated on better personal hygiene, access to clean drinking water, and the like).

For me and mine, the reasons not to vaccinate at this time are clear, and with that, we believe we have the right to choose for our daughters without punishment from the greater society aka Preschool directors. Surely, they have the right to "protect" their student body, and of course, they have state guidelines they must follow in order to keep their doors open, so perhaps my gripe goes higher than Ms. Betty at Loving Care Preschool (don't worry, the names are fictitious).  Perhaps my gripe is yet again about the blanket approach to parent/student issues, and the lack of provisions for those who don't fit into one of the nifty check boxes on the application. 

Besides, if all the other children in their school are up to date with their shots, they should be fully armored against our daughters' bubonic plague of cooties, right? #ImJustSayin

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Invisible Eaters: The Trouble With Preschool (Rant 1 of 3)

 NOPE, VEGETARIAN CHILDREN DO NOT EXIST!

School searches, lunch menus, snot-dotted t-shirts from don't-leave-yet-mommy protests, and making new "best friends, ever" ...  Ah yes, the preschool concerto is in full swing! 

Our youngest daughter is now in her third week of preschool, and it's with mixed feelings that I experience this milestone.  As I mentioned in this post, I'm using this week to sit on your couch (because you invited me, remember?) and release my frustration by way of a heart-to-heart between us.  I see you put Kleenex out for me already --and I thank you.  I also see that you have hot water available, and honey on the table right next to me so that I can steep my fresh mint leaves, and drown my sorrows in the healing powers of a good cup of tea.  You are such a sweetheart! 

RANT ONE: Vegetarian Meals? Uhhhh...wait here, please!

Okay, good folks over at the Georgia Meal Planners Association of Annoyance or whatever, I get it.  Your objective is to see to it that the children in preschool programs have meals that include some version of fruit, veggies, grains, and carbohydrates, but dude, can you drop the "blanket" approach and allow room for parents who care at least as much as you do about what goes into their children's stomachs?

We had such a hard time finding a public school that would allow us to bring in her meals.  Now, I get that if I don't like the rules, I don't have to play the game.  I get that instead of using the Georgia-funded Pre-K, (which Kris and I truly appreciate), we could opt to pay for our daughter to go to a private Pre-K program that may have less "blanket restrictions" than a state-funded program. We could also keep her at home until she goes to elementary school where bringing lunch is totally acceptable, right? Sure, but we don't freakin' want to! We want her to interact with other children and have time away for her parents. Hell, we want a few hours away from her too -- what?!

When our oldest daughter was in a state-funded Pre-K program, they gave the parents of vegetarian children the option to pay a monthly fee to have vegetarian meals prepared for them.  Why is that not an option at most other schools?  Instead, we encountered a series of odd stares, slow blinks, and the ever-popular "Oh, boy, not the hippie, nuts-n-berries folks" tones as they kindly ushered us out of their facilities.

*Taps Mic* Removing meat from a meal does not make it vegetarian, nor does it make it healthy, well-balanced, or even palatable.

Have you read the labels of the jello, the fruit cups, and the snacks that pass for "healthy" these days? I believe that each parent has the right to give their children whatever foods they deem appropriate, but I'm constantly surprised by the lack of thought that goes into meal-planning in terms of the health factor when it comes to children.  It feels like Kris and I are being penalized by the state for being conscious and strategic about the nutrients our children get on a daily basis.

Dude, I'm not asking you to feed them grass and raisins, I'm just saying that processed foods, sugars, and meat are not in the "approved" food group for the babies that I birthed.

Damn, I can't even front like I don't want to shake the sense back into parents whose little ones guzzle sodas and have regular meals consisting of chicken nuggets and french fries like they're not setting their bodies up for life-long issues with weight management, generally poor food processing, and unhealthy relationships with food! You may saying I'm judging, and perhaps I am, so we can agree to disagree or you can enlighten me. Either way, I'm less than impressed with the food choices many parents are making for their children.  They're our responsibility, so why set them up with bad habits right outta the gate?! Helloooo!!

*Reaches for Kleenex. Wipes eyes. Blows nose. Makes a cup of tea*

What of the children who come from families who don't eat meat for religious reasons? I realize that sometimes, money is a factor in what people feed their children, but you can still provide healthy meals with some forethought and discipline, so that argument ain't being bought wholesale ova here! Overall, I remain baffled, annoyed, and left with few options within our current financial and geographic parameters -- this is the stuff that headaches are made of, for sure!

We had to jump through so many hoops to get the go-ahead for our little one to finally start a program where we can bring in what she eats and drinks each day. Thankfully, we found an place that allowed us to submit a letter stating our assertions about our child's diet, and after clearing it with the Nutrition Gatekeepers or whatever, we were good to go.

It didn't help our case any when they found out that in addition to being the weirdos who deprive our poor babies of the joys of meat, excess sugar, nitrates, and process foods, we also don't vaccinate.  But that's a rant for another day...

Thanks SO much for listening! No, no, don't get up, I'll let myself out.  Same time Wednesday?

(((((HUGS))))

Double Schoolers: Mama's Gettin' ME TIME!!

I admit it, I've been M.I.A. for a while now, but dude—it's been busy on the Execumama homefront! Much like many of you, we've been gearing up for back-to-school mayhem, end-of-summer work/life revisions, and the adjustments that come with having two little ones in school at the same time.

...and there you have it.  Both daughters are officially "students"!

One 's our second grader (who seems to be almost my height...)

and the other is our official big girl who started Pre-K4!

I can't even front like we didn't throw our own private party when Sage was finally admitted into Pre-K!  I'm still picking confetti from my locs, particularly because we went through both hell and highwater to get babygirl up in a decent preschool. But she's in, and we're good to go, so I'll take the lessons and move forward. Wooosah! #Namyohorengehkyoh

Next week, I'm starting a series of public laments regarding the apparent threat to national security that comes in the form of parents deciding what their children should eat and whether they should be vaccinated.  But for now, I wanted to drop a line to provide you with this Important Public Service Announcement:

If your children are in school for at least four hours per day, make a promise to spend a whopping 30 minutes of "Me Time" during their temporary absence.  Be it a chillfest on the couch with Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips, a brisk walk around your neighborhood, or a meditative session where your soul focus is to be quiet long enough to remember your AMAZING SELF--do it! Uhn-uh, I don't want to hear the excuses about the laundry demons and the like. Make 30 minutes, period.

(Sort of) Wordless Wednesday

Kitten and Kiddo

Went to check on the girls before turning in for bed last night, and saw a "boy" in my six year old's bed! Fortunately, he's only 14 weeks old, so they'll both live to tell the tale.

Room Redesign: The Design Board Reveal

 Yaay! Heart of Decor sent us our design board and I am so pleased with the simplicity and functionality of their ideas.  I advised them that we weren't looking for the over-the-top cornucopia-of-princessdom type of room, but more so a subtle design that lends itself to a calm, yet fun type of space where two growing girlpies (I got that my homie @mybrownbaby, don't you love it?) can chillax from day to day.  I think they hit the mark, and I'm so excited to see this come to fruition.  Here are Marley and Sage-Niambi's take on the design thus far:

Execumama Escapes: The Four Seasons Atlanta Edition

Here's what I want to do for you, because I know how your always busy/sometimes chaotic schedule can wreak havoc on your sanity.  I want to:

Book you an overnight stay at a swanky Atlanta hotel

complete with a gorgeous King-sized bed, a serene bathroom with a garden bathtub...

a do-it-yourself aromatherapy and bath salt spa treatment kit...

give you a plush robe to relax in after your bath

schedule a morning yoga class to help you relax even more...

Oh, and what if I interrupted your "Oh, my God, Akilah, thank you" swooning to tell you that breakfast, lunch, and dinner arrangements had already been made, and all meals were hosted by the chef, a brilliant PR coordinator named Abby Moreland and members of the hotel staff, and included:

appetizers...

 more appetizers...

cocktails such as Grey Goose Strawberry Mojitos

breakfast that includes fresh picked fruit, goat cheese and spinach omelets, parfaits...

dinners that make you want to eat until you pass out from fatigue

and the company of some of the blogosphere's friendliest faces and warmest spirits.

I'll even throw in post-bliss swag for you AND your children!

Okay wait...I meant to say that I WANT to do this for you, but until such time, I thought I'd try out the experience to see if it's actually as fabulous as it sounds.

As it turns out, it IS just as fabulous, and I appreciate the Four Seasons Atlanta PR team and staff for showing me and my fellow Mommy bloggers such a relaxing time! (((BEAR HUGS)))))

Executive Chef, Robert Gerstenecker, and Sous Chef Tommy Greer made sure our bodies were nourished and our palates were signing the entire time.  Thank you, gentlemen!  Director of Rooms, Annette Watkins gave us the scoop on the hotel, included some of the package options and the details of the spa inclusions. 

Spa Director Garth Mamicpic greeted us the moment we walked through the revolving doors, and for the entire luxurious event, Garth showed me his Houdini tendencies by appearing EVERY SINGLE TIME I needed something.  I swear, if I wanted an extra hand with a bag, he appeared; if I wondered what a certain product was made of, he appeared -- his official title is Spa Director, but I think Magician is a better fit. 

My 50-minute aromatherapy massage was conducted by a miracle worker named Faith.  She was so attentive and magical, and when my massage was done, I felt like I floated out of the massage room and up to my room for a shower, a change of clothes, and preparation for my delicious lunch.

Want your very own taste of luxury in Atlanta?  Check out these summer specials, and treat yourself to a slice of heaven.

What a way to spend a Happy Hour! The mini burgers were available to us during our stay, and the consensus was -- YUM!

Can't catch Happy Hour?  How about a romantic dinner with the hubs, or maybe a night out with the girls?  Let me just tell you that what you get for those prices is SO worth it!

 Oh, and look...take-home goodies!!  I love that I can take home the fabulosity that's making my fingernails and toenails look extra FLY! 

Okay, that's the dealy-o on my Viva La Four Seasons Atlanta declaration!  I shared the experience with the following mommy bloggers, and I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say,

Dear Four Seasons Atlanta PR Team and Hotel Staff,

Clearly, you're in love with us.  We accept that reality, and appreciate your show of affection by way of our well-earned, much-deserved, FAB-U-LOUS getaway!  Muah!

Sincerely,

Akilah &
Jennifer- Mami 2 Mommy
Lorraine- Ask Wifey
Desi- Wee Share
Piera- Jolly Mom
Lisa- Life With Lisa, The Product Review Place, The Brand Ambassador
Amanda- Oh Amanda
Stacie- The Divine Miss Mommy, The Product Review Place



Disclosure: All services during my stay were complimentary. This is not a paid post as I received no monetary compensation, and all opinions are my own. 

A Room Makeover That's Just In Time!

Are you one of those moms who a) put precious time and energy into envisioning a theme or design for your children's room, and then b) actually execute the vision?

So?  I don't care!   Yes I do, and now I can stop giving you the eye-roll coupled with "whooptido" index finger sign and actually do something about my um...situation.  One would never guess that I'm a recovering HGTV junkie. #shameful

Behold, the bare bones room!



I know, I know! Snooze City, right?! Dude...I know it, and that's why I got all Betty Badass and sent an unsolicited video to Heart of Decor on some, "can you guys help us, puuuhleaaase!" kinda vibe.  And guess, what?

THEY ACTUALLY AGREED TO HELP!  Yes, Ma'am, we're getting a room redesign, a makeover, a gussying up of a bland, blaaaaand space! *Picture me doing a back spin, getting up all extra fast, then doing the Tootsie Roll with my lips twisted to the far right*

Follow us on the journey, won't ya?  You can even comment with your own questions for the Heart of Decor Team!  You know have than one room that just isn't quite right! Let these ladies who pride themselves on Affordable Design help you out, no matter your location, budget, or taste.

Our goal is to be done by August 30th, with an HGTV-esque "Big Reveal" and er'thang -- YEAHYUS!

Okay, so please don't leave me feeling all alone in this journey of de-sucking a room in my house.  Which room in your house is begging for some professional assistance in the area of design? #Tellthetruthandshamethedevil


***Neither Execumama.com, Execumama Enterprises, LLC or Akilah S. Richards are receiving compensation from Heart of Decor for this or any Heart of Decor related posts.  The service is being offered minus any labor or design fees, and all purchased items will be paid for by Akilah S. Richards.***