Originally Posted by talloulou

I pretend not to know stuff all the time. I spend lots of time with kids, both my own and others at school and when they're really excited or passionate about something I allow them to "teach" me which they find thrilling.

After reading this thread, I wonder if that's good or bad? Am I being a bad role model? I certainly don't act like a ditz but I do feign ignorance quite often because I find that they're more interested in talking to me about stuff they learned if they think the info is new to me as well. I imagine as they get older I won't be doing this, but it's definitely a habit I have. The interesting thing is my husband doesn't do this, ever. The kids always know that he already knows all there is to know about whatever they're learning about. But when I sort of act like I'm ignorant they get a kick out of talking about it more, showing me things, and they're just so damned excited about it all in a way that they're not with their dad. But the flip side of all that is if you were to ask them now, "Who's smarter mom or dad," I'm fairly certain they would say dad because of all the pretending I do. But they're young yet so I'll have time to prove myself later when they're older.

It's not just my kids either, its kids I work with at school too. They know their teachers know all the stuff they're learning so I think they have fun bouncing ideas off an adult that they think isn't in the know so to speak. I find they really enjoy it when I ask them questions and they are able to answer them in a way that they feel like they're teaching me.

hmm I'll have to think on it all a bit. Maybe I need a new technique and perhaps pretending to be clueless isn't the best approach. But I'm telling you with kids, it really gets them excited. They are always being "taught" and rarely get the opportunity to teach.

Originally Posted by talloulou

Oh I loved when my kids were old enough to be "little people" with thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Tons of my girlfriends prefer the baby/toddler stage. But I really enjoy my kids more now that they're older. The baby stage is cute but I found it kind of boring and trying. The toddler stage is like dealing with mini clueless tyrants completely incapable of understanding any form of rationalization or logic. That stage was tiring! But 3+ up was and is my favorite. I have friends who say often, "Don't you wish they could go back to being really little?" Eeeew God, no I really don't. In many ways they are easier when they're little but it's that mind numbing stab yourself in the eye with a fork just to prove yes you are still alive booooring! I much prefer older kids though I'm a little weary of the teenage years, but I have a ways to go yet before that.