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Kids growing way too fast?
DWAYNE McLEOD, Staff Reporter
Has anyone noticed that our nations' kids are growing up way too fast?
In recent times, my conversations with a few toddlers has left me to think about placing my kid in a bubble once he or she is born, away from the influences of the world.
Let me recall the most recent run-in with a very outspoken five-year-old girl. I had accompanied a friend to visit another female friend.
On arrival at the female's house and knocking her door, we were greeted by the child, who was all smiles as she opened the door while acting on her mother's instructions and inviting us inside.
After waiting for about five minutes, I decided to ask the child to go check on her mother and remind her that she had guests.
<span style="font-weight: bold">To my amazement, the child then questioned my motive for asking about her mother and then continued to make it clear that her mom was not interested and as such I could not have sex with her. (A commonly used four-letter expletive was substituted for sex.) </span>
Innocent face
My friend and I simply stared at the toddler in utter amazement and she stared back with a rather innocent face.
After being at a loss for words for a few seconds, we asked the child to explain what she meant.
The five-year-old girl simply replied, "My madda have har man aready, yu cyaa get har."
Surely, that answer was nothing compared to what she had said initially, but I could not help but wonder how did it get into her little head that someone was trying to 'get' her mother.
After much deliberation with the child and deciding not to educate mommy as to her 'stunning' vocabulary, I warned the youngster to refrain from making such remarks again, to which she agreed.
Whenever I remember that little girl, it always reminds me to go to utmost extents while trying to filter the things that my child will be exposed to.
Truth be told, even if you throw out the television and radio, and even the Internet, there are always the factors of school, friends and even plain words.
Sadly, the truth is no matter how much we try to keep our children away from situations that are deemed 'unfit' for their hearing or seeing, there is always some other medium which will bring across the very same situation to them.
It is no secret that children live what they learn and the old order of "Do as I say and not as I do", goes nowhere with today's generation of children.
We as grown-ups need to find creative measures in educating our kids as to things which are right and wrong and not just give them the old-fashioned warnings, hoping they will refrain from doing as they were told.
That does not work any more!
DWAYNE McLEOD, Staff Reporter
Has anyone noticed that our nations' kids are growing up way too fast?
In recent times, my conversations with a few toddlers has left me to think about placing my kid in a bubble once he or she is born, away from the influences of the world.
Let me recall the most recent run-in with a very outspoken five-year-old girl. I had accompanied a friend to visit another female friend.
On arrival at the female's house and knocking her door, we were greeted by the child, who was all smiles as she opened the door while acting on her mother's instructions and inviting us inside.
After waiting for about five minutes, I decided to ask the child to go check on her mother and remind her that she had guests.
<span style="font-weight: bold">To my amazement, the child then questioned my motive for asking about her mother and then continued to make it clear that her mom was not interested and as such I could not have sex with her. (A commonly used four-letter expletive was substituted for sex.) </span>
Innocent face
My friend and I simply stared at the toddler in utter amazement and she stared back with a rather innocent face.
After being at a loss for words for a few seconds, we asked the child to explain what she meant.
The five-year-old girl simply replied, "My madda have har man aready, yu cyaa get har."
Surely, that answer was nothing compared to what she had said initially, but I could not help but wonder how did it get into her little head that someone was trying to 'get' her mother.
After much deliberation with the child and deciding not to educate mommy as to her 'stunning' vocabulary, I warned the youngster to refrain from making such remarks again, to which she agreed.
Whenever I remember that little girl, it always reminds me to go to utmost extents while trying to filter the things that my child will be exposed to.
Truth be told, even if you throw out the television and radio, and even the Internet, there are always the factors of school, friends and even plain words.
Sadly, the truth is no matter how much we try to keep our children away from situations that are deemed 'unfit' for their hearing or seeing, there is always some other medium which will bring across the very same situation to them.
It is no secret that children live what they learn and the old order of "Do as I say and not as I do", goes nowhere with today's generation of children.
We as grown-ups need to find creative measures in educating our kids as to things which are right and wrong and not just give them the old-fashioned warnings, hoping they will refrain from doing as they were told.
That does not work any more!