Sometimes I am not sure what to think about parenting in a foreign culture. There are so many things that I experience with my eyes alone, as I don't understand the language to add hearing to my level of understanding.
For example, I've been getting a weird vibe from Sadie's music class. Today there were three new toddlers in attendance, with their moms. And their nannies. I tried not to stare in curiosity, but I really didn't get it. What did those moms expect to happen during a 45 minute music class that they could not handle alone? Could they not deal with a diaper change, or a tantrum? I spent most of the class ruminating on that instead of focusing on shaking maracas.
Also, those other toddlers pretty much sat politely in their appropriate parental laps for the entire class, while my little girl alternately would wander over to offer her drum/shaker/scarf to her instructor, investigate the row of cabinets along the wall to ensure that they were indeed locked, and well, sometimes she sat in my lap. Or near my lap. I know that some of Sadie's interactivity is appropriate for the class, such as running over to the shaker container to drop hers in at the end of the activity, and jumping up to push the large gathering drum into it's storage cabinet (someone has to demonstrate those things, right?). But the rest of it was acting out of turn, even though it's typical toddler behavior from my own cultural perspective. Her need to explore and investigate is something that I encourage, and something that my Canadian and American friends who are parents encourage. But in Thailand? I'm not sure. The way that those other toddlers sat around and let their moms direct their hands up/down/around to emulate the instructor perfectly makes to think that Thai parents value something quite different in their toddlers. And now I really wonder what Sadie's instructor was saying when he'd switch back to speaking Thai and be looking in her direction ...
It is so sad, when women don't support each other.... I have personally devoted the last 10 years of my life - full time, to empower and celebrate women and mothers. Then people like you come along and don't respect the fact that my organization has spent thousands of dollars registering trademarks, incorporating and hiring biz professionals to do our blogging, events, social networking and more. Can't you think of a name that doesn't confuse or violate trademark laws... We will forward your info to our lawyers. Tho the process may take awhile. BTW, there are so many great ideas and names out there. Pleasssse reconsider your use of this name.
Joy, Team of hundreds and MAMAPALOOZA! www.mamapalooza.com
Posted by: Joy Rose | December 11, 2009 at 11:52 AM