Parenting by Proxy

Last updated on: August 22, 2014 at 4:03 pm by Rebecca Frech

Parenting by Proxy 2014-08-22T16:03:01-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

People keep asking me how the school situation is going with #3. It’s such a difficult question. I’m never really sure how to answer it honestly. He likes it, but comes home from the school day completely exhausted. He’s ready to head back in the mornings, but complains about the length of the school day. I agree with him. It’s too long.

He now spends more waking hours with strangers than he does with his own family. We miss him, and he misses us. In his eyes, the perfect solution would be for his teacher and classmates to come to our house for school. I would, but I’m not sure where we would put everyone.

I’m finding it difficult to be a part-time parent. The few hours I get with him every night after homework is done and the neighborhood children are played with, is just not enough. This is the major drawback I have seen to traditional schooling. The Computer Guy and I have to share parenting with people we don’t know. They spend much more time with him than do we. It’s just a numbers game. Most of the time he’s under our roof he’s sleeping.

I don’t know how other parents do this every day without the angst. How can I say that I am parenting him when I get to spend only an hour or two a night with him before bedtime routines begin? How do I shoehorn in all that he needs to know in such a short amount of time? How do other parents reconcile themselves to this? Is it just what we do, so it must be the right thing to do?

I am watching my little boy assume the shape that other people are molding him into being. So far, it is one I can live with, but the power over him that this implies is a bit frightening. How can I protect a child I do not see? I know that eventually we have to let them go, but everything in me says that this is too much way too soon.

How do we balance his need for an education with his need for parents? This is the answer to how is his schooling going? It is a lopsided, backwards tightrope walk and I can’t help but feel as if we’re missing something….and that the something might be him.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 10, 2010

Restaurant Bans Insensitive Parents

Next Post

September 14, 2010 Improvements

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the outcome of Sennacherib's army attacking Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Destroyed by an angel They won The city fell They captured Hezekiah