Stumbled on this article this morning.  It is just simply awesome.

I’m a great deal more concerned with mud pies and blowing bubbles than numbers and letters.  I am also much more focused on teaching the boys that whatever they are interested in, be it dinosaurs, cooking, painting/drawing, or playing with dollhouses, is not only okay….it’s awesome.

I think if we all spent more time building up our kids and teaching them to be secure in themselves, we’d have a lot less jacked up adults.  Gracen has a phenomenal kitchen set-up in his room, with an apron and chef hat, multiple burners & grills, and cash registers with a shopping cart for buying food.  He loves it.  He also has a vacuum cleaner and brooms and mops.  He has a toy iron, and ‘washes’ his clothes.

At least a couple times a week he cooks me something wonderful and we ‘eat’ it (usually Darth Maul Stew with artichokes).  Do I think there are traditionally girl & boy themed toys?  Yes.  Do I stick to the generally boyish themes?  Not on your life.  He gets what he is interested in, and plays with what he likes.  When he gets older, he’ll be a well adjusted person who knows how to cook and clean for himself, & how to wash his own clothes.  He also has tools, swords, cars, engines that can be disassembled, and superhero outfits, which are sometimes in use all at once (a la Samurai Delicatessen).

I really do believe the best investment we can make in the future is to concentrate on molding intelligent, creative, compassionate, empathetic, happy kids.  That isn’t to say that it isn’t also very important to help them reach their potential academically.  It absolutely is.  One complements the other, and both are important for a well adjusted adult.  I just want to be sure they are happy, safe, and healthy while they learn.