Posted in Lessons I Have Learned

Warning! 
This is going to be a rant!!!!
I am on my Soapbox!!!

Have you seen the new Staples commercials?  The kids are happily playing in the pool, Dad is BBQing and happily pushes the "Easy Button" to load the kids down with school supplies and bring their joyful play to a screeching halt.

Why is that funny????  Why do people make spending time with their own children into a burden?  Why is it funny to think that school is just a place to send your children for free to get them out of your hair?  Why would it make any parent happy to see their children looking sad at just the thought of going back to school.  Why, why, why???

I just don't get it.  I love my kids.  I love spending time with my kids.  I was in the pool with my kids today (and most everyday) for over an hour and a half and I LOVED it!   I wish I could spend more time with them and I spend 24-7 with them now!  I just told my husband the other day that if we could every afford housekeepers, nannies and tutors I would only want to housekeeper.  Someone else cleaning my house would allow me to have more time with my kids! 

I rarely say negative things about institutional schooling.  I like to say that I am not anti-institutional school but I am pro-homeschooling.  The truth is I never considered anything but homeschooling.  I am fine with other people chosing institutional schooling if they are chosing what they really feel is the best option for their childs education.  But, if they are making this choice just because it is easy and gets rid of their children then I think that is pathetic.  How can we expect schools to succeed if we are just using them as a way to get a break from our kids?

I hate that commercial.  Can you tell?  The BIG question is...Is it just a commercial or is it really the way parents think?



Okay, I am getting off my soapbox now!  Whew, I feel a little better!

Oh, I left out the worst part...When he pushes the Easy Button the music kicks in "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"  Lalala...Yuck!

¤ Post A Comment! ¤ Send to a Friend!

Comments

Posted by bearsmom

Sadly, it is the way some parents think. Personally, I think it is a tool of Satan to promote selfishness and divide families, Christian ones included. Now I will get off my soap box. But, I do agree with you. That is a terrible commercial.

¤ Permanent Link

Posted by babymakers

I think it is the way most people feel even if they don't say it. I know people that "love" the children but have said that when they go to school it is "their time" to just do whatever. In fact they don't understand why we don't feel the same way. I don't like leaving my children with a babysitter let alone sending them away for 8 hours a day.

Good rant.

¤ Permanent Link

Posted by ThePreachersFamily

but I can assuredly say that I never felt selfish joy over sending PK2 to school last year or this year. I also never felt school was then going to be "my time", perhaps because I'm still homeschooling PK1 at home or perhaps because if both PKs went to school....I would go to work.

However, I didn't feel mortified over sending her to school either. I think there are many strong, wholesome, academically challenging schools in our nation. Not all of them....nope. But many.

I do know many people who say "Man, I can't wait for summer to be over! I'm ready to send these kids back to school!"
I can't imagine EVER saying that!

¤ Permanent Link

Posted by LadyPoet33

You may not be anti-institutional school, but I am! So know, that I am getting on my soapbox now...

I think that many parents really do feel this way, and I think it's because we as a nation are lazy, and don't value children like we should. I could go on my political rant, but I won't. LOL

I hear parents all the time say "I'll be so glad when school starts, finally have some time to myself!" and I think: "I can't wait til your kid goes back to school as well, because then I get to spend more time with my kids without your child hanging around." LOL I guess it's all in where you "lay up your treasures".

If I could afford a nanny, a housekeeper, and a tutor, and a cook. I'd take the housekeeper and the cook (the cook only a couple times a week, because I do like to cook with my kids), I might accept a tutor for music, because I have some children who are musical, but I have not knowledge of it. I am told I am tone deaf. LOL

However, my 18yod taught herself to play the piano with books, and mentors in the family, and some friends. She plays very well now. Homeschoolers are a wierd bunch...aren't we? We teach ourselves things all the time, without the "benefit" of an instutional school and is gaggle of teachers.

thanks for letting me rant! ;)

LadyPoet33

¤ Permanent Link