How many of your friends think you are crazy?

[cate]

Hi from Ottawa, Ontario.
Does anyone else find that their friends think they are crazy trying to teach baby reading (or anything else for that matter to a baby!)?  When i tell friends and family what we are doing with Glen Doman's material and Brillkids I get blank stares and topic of conversation are changed quickly.  I met one other mother recently whose daughter was reading by 13 months, and by 3 yr old was reading the "Little house on the Prairie" books.  I was so thrilled.
 I would love to hear from other parents about their programs and challenges.
Thx
Cate

[a mommy]

The short answer - Yes.

I rarely discuss any of the early learning we are doing (except on this forum ), as most of our friends give me a blank stare, and tell me their opinion on why it isn't good for our son. I have tried to explain my position, but it has never really helped. So I have given up and try to make that one of the topics we avoid, just as we avoid talking about some of our other choices. When anyone exclaims how smart he is that he knows his letters at 22mo, I try to downplay it and change the subject.

To be honest, most of our friends, save one,  think I am crazy for teaching him sign language. However, he is able to use sign language to express the things that he is not yet able to verbally, and we have yet to ever have a temper tantrum or anything like that. So when I see our friends children screaming because they can't express themselves, I just give my son a kiss, and am thankful that we chose our own route.

[cate]

Thanks so much for your reply! It's great to hear what you have to say.  I also downplay how much my kids actually know to most people...very few people understand what I'm doing is "child driven".  Yet my kids beg me for more learning.  I also taught my two daughters to use sign language (we only do basic signs but enough to communicate). My first daughter was diaper trained at 16 month because she could communicate that she need to go to the bathroom (because SHE wanted to use a toilet and I was happy to assist!).  Elimination communication (EC) just comes naturally along to this whole "baby learning" process (and saved me a ton of money on diapers as a bonus).
 
Since I introduced my daughters to reading and math they both beg me for learning (my youngest signs "more") in any way it comes from books, walks, counting up and down the stairs, emptying the dishwasher and counting the spoons...or reading signs on buildings etc. My youngest just turned 14 months and last night both my husband and I could clearly hear her counting out loud from 1 to 6 as she climbed the stairs at bath time. 

When the kids were tiny babies it was hard to keep myself going with the baby learning (you kind of wonder if it's worth all the time and energy) but once the children start responding to this way of learning you see the magic of it all.  I get excited but I rarely share it with anyone other than my husband...because everyone thinks I'm a crazy.  Now that the kids are asking for learning, it keeps me going.  I know if we take a break from it we will lose it (I did that with my first child).  It's take months to get her interested again...

My sincere hope what I'm doing to maximize my children's potential will bring my kids great level of happiness and joy.   

[apapovich]

I used to be very enthusiastic talking to moms about an early reading program. But I came across some misunderstanding in the form of question and statements like “Why do you want to teach so early? It is unnecessary burden on your precious one”. Or “If he learns reading and math now he will not have interest in studies at school. He will be different from other kids, they won’t make friends with him, he will become isolated,” or “It is simple waste of money”. Only one friend of mine shared my enthusiasm and purchased Your Baby Can Read immediately. Now I try to avoid this topic and share my experience only with those who are interested.

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