Much Ado...

Here is a book I highly recommend. Actually most of the information is just common sense, but I have found it to be the perfect antidote to all the stress and concern I have had lately due to our preschool situation. The book in a nutshell talks about all the pressure parents feel to give their child a leg up and mold them into idealized little people. In reality, play and unscheduled, free time is best for the child on every level, particularly if you value creative thinking over rote learning. There is a lot more to the book and its worth a look- I am putting it on my shelf of favorites (there is a topic for another post: our favorite books shelf).
But this common sense parenting is making me think of another area we parents get pressured on: is your child growing up quickly enough? I am thinking of how my daughter's teachers are impatient with her not following multi stepped directions. (She is only three). Also, we are gearing up for a visit to my husband's family in a few weeks and both of us expect a little disapproval that our daughter is still using a pacifier at night and is not able to sit for a full meal. And the last thing that stands out in my mind on this topic is when our daughter was about 9 months old and we were visiting cousins. The wife of a cousin told us to spend more time making our daughter "walk" (and she was very proud that her daughter learned to walk at an early age). So what is the reason for wanting our kids to grow up ASAP? My daughter learned to walk at her own pace- just as she will be able to sit for a meal soon enough and the pacifier I'm sure won't go to college with her.
All of this is to say: enough already on the parenting advice. (Right?! Everyone has on opinion). Kids will learn and grow up at their own pace. We must use common sense and not feel pressure to rush children or have idealized expectations. 
Ahhhh, Relax... Maybe this can actually be fun.