WWDD?

i feel a little doogie howser tonight.
after every class, i'm suppose to journal about what i've learned today and how it affects my life. since today was so interesting, i had to blog about it too.

remember how he would journal at the end of every episode on his sweet computer?
he was so cutting edge.
he may have been the first blogger.


so the class i'm in now is about developmental theories. if you've ever wanted a "parenting freshie(or do-over, for those of you not familiar with martinez-speak)", or feel guilty sometimes that makes you want that "freshie", do not take a class on child development.
you go from feeling like lisa whelchel to brittany spears.

backstory:
today we talked about bonding and attachment. you know, that critical period between birth and 3 years old when an infant's innate need for survival is met through bonding with his mother/caretaker. oh, did i mention that if this is not met adequately, it can lead to intimacy issues, lack of empathy, poor impulse control, developmental delays, eating disorders, abuse, aggression, and a multitude of insecurites? uplifting stuff huh?
now before we go around blaming mom for everything, you as an infant are wired a certain way too. so, if you are wired in a way that makes you a difficult baby, your mom could have had a difficult time bonding and attaching in the first place, so then its kinda your own fault. or, your environment could be at fault. did you grow up in a place of war, or domestic, or community violence? are you a refugee?
do you see where i'm going with this?

the point:
forget about no child left behind. let's work on no baby left behind. which is really hard for me to admit because i love preteens so much, but i think my friend hillary would agree with me here. we are spending so much money on tests and tests and tests and college readiness programs, but did you see all the problems i listed that come from getting nothing between birth and 3 years of age?
those are my students!!! the kids i work with every day.
sheesh, those are every problem student in every classroom in every district, in every town.
by the time they hit kindergarten, if they haven't had any bonding/attachment/developmental programs, anything by 5, forget about leaving them behind,they've already been left behind!

answer? again, education. but the right kind of education. i have a brother who has a business degree. he's an educated dude.
mike, did you have to take any psych classes? any developmental classes?
probably not.
yes education is key, but the right kind of education.
parenting education.
this stuff should be taught in schools before people even have babies (and don't get me started on sex education). i seriously began to rethink my purpose for taking these classes. i mean i may go into early intervention education.
no, no, no, i do not want to teach preschool or younger, but someone needs to take this on.
no way am i the first person in america to realize that stuff needs to happen sooner than kinnygarden if we want to truly help kids succeed?
if so, then doogie watch out!

by the way, if you see the doogie icon, beware. it will probably be followed by rantings similar to those above.