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What are ways to help my unborn boy to sorta get out there and try new things?

207 replies

brynna · 18/12/2022 06:07

Hi. My son, whose name will be Archer, is due in February and my husband and I really want to set up the best life for him. That’s already involved us moving into a nice neighborhood, looking into preschools, yada yada yada. The thing we’re having trouble with is that we want him to sorta ‘get out there’ and have skills and hobbies and stuff.

we’ve already thought of having him join the boys choir (if he wants ofc) for the city we live in because it’s great, you travel around the world, you make friends, and yk it’s just good. but what other things are there that we could have him try that could allow for independence? here are some things we’ve thought of:

- required to try out
**- we recommend but not required
-only if you want

-boys choir (offers plenty of opportunities and the program is relatively isolated so he’d be making friends)**
-ballet/aerobics/dance (shows him that he can do what girls do too plus he might enjoy it)
-karate (it’s always good to have those skills plus it builds a good work ethic)**
-piano lessons (not social but gives him an outlet)
-horseback riding (good outlet plus experience with animals)*

we can’t think of anymore though and we’d start enrolling him in stuff like this at age ~4 and we want things with other benefits too so we wouldn’t do piano and horseback riding ag the same time because they’re both outlets and we only need one yk we need to maximize stuff

anyways we just want to set him up with a good future but we need advice!!

OP posts:
Beanbagtrap · 18/12/2022 06:57

You can definitely enrol him onto a pottery class by 12 months. You'll be able to give vases to all your loved ones with his face on it for next Xmas.

LindorDoubleChoc · 18/12/2022 06:57

Heh heh. This is quite a good one!

Mumtobabyhavoc · 18/12/2022 06:59

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 18/12/2022 06:40

On your due date, get in the bath, hang one leg over the edge, and shout "swim Archer! Swim towards the light"

😭😭😭😭😭

Interested in this thread?

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loislovesstewie · 18/12/2022 07:03

If this is for real just let the poor little blighter enjoy himself. I mean whatever happened to being a kid, rolling in mud, paddling in streams, playing with your friends, exploring, etc.

liveforsummer · 18/12/2022 07:04

I assumed from the title you wanted ideas to encourage an over due baby to shift 🙈. What if your schedule is scared of horses, has a singing voice like a strangled cat or has a sensory issue that means they hate the sound of a piano?! You need to relax and see who he is. As above dc will often like the same hobbies that their parents participate in so look at that. In the mean time look at baby swim lessons or something. Being able to swim is important (not for babies but it does give good water confidence to most)

Artichokepiglet · 18/12/2022 07:05

I thought this was going to be a post about how to encourage an overdue baby to make an appearance!

Honestly, I don't think you need to worry about planning these things yet. You'll get a better idea of what kinds of things he might be interested in once he's here and a bit older.

PatientlyWaiting21 · 18/12/2022 07:07

This can’t be real?!

just enjoy the baby time. Settle down.

ohioriver · 18/12/2022 07:09

I think you need to chill out.

musicandpassion · 18/12/2022 07:12

girlmom21 · 18/12/2022 06:32

You really need to calm down and dial it back.

However swimming is a life skill all children should have IMO. Much more important than playing an instrument.

Please also get the idea of dancing being for girls out of your head

This is exactly what I came to say.
Archer isn't even born yet, give him a chance!
But definitely swimming. It's a lifesaving skill, it's absolutely vital.

RitaSueandBobtwo · 18/12/2022 07:13

You can dream and think but wait to meet him and be led by him.

By all means you can think and suggest things but your little one might be obsessed with football, rugby, drama, climbing walls, knitting, golf, art, space, cycling or be quiet and perfectly happy and just not interested in any clubs or activities or interested in something entirely different or unimaginable to you. Please wait and see.

FrangipaniBlue · 18/12/2022 07:14

I'm just here for the comments (before this thread goes poof!) 😂

raspberrytinsel · 18/12/2022 07:14

How about considering a hobby called freedom.

ohioriver · 18/12/2022 07:15

Some kids will never be able to swim. It's not a vital skill they'll do just fine without it. (One of mine has).

CoffeandTiaMaria · 18/12/2022 07:17

Good grief! Poor kid, you really cannot map out a fantasy life for anyone let alone your unborn child!
Bizarre idea.

Dolally34 · 18/12/2022 07:22

The saying "You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink" comes to mind.
We introduced our young DS to gymnastics, golf, rugby, cricket, swimming, sailing, football, tennis, archery, piano, and cycling over the years. He didn't enjoy anything, he was exhausted and hated them all. Now as a teenager
he spends all his time he's not at school in bed asleep or gaming he has no hobbies.
He's got ADD, he has little energy and can't focus.

They are who they are and you have to accept it.

BluntWithAC · 18/12/2022 07:26

Teach him not to shit his pants, throw up on himself and hold his head up first. The rest will come later.

Sandy89xx · 18/12/2022 07:26

I was going to say swimming both my 2 really enjoy it and have been going since around 7 weeks however there 2 completely different kids and I don't thinks either of mine would appreciate doing any of the activities... street dancing one does and really enjoys it it might be worth waiting till he grows up and see what his interests are and work around that .... my friend pressured her daughter into doing gymnastics because they'd never had the opportunity as a child and it caused no end of issues till eventually the group told her mum she wasn't welcome. Although the opportunities the choir brings sounds amazing my mum used to play for the towns orchestra but no way would either of mine. Good luck and enjoy watching him grow and develop and take it from there.

Cosycover · 18/12/2022 07:30

Calm doon.

My DS has tried everything and hated them all. You can't force them to like things. Don't force him to play piano if he doesn't want to.

He will be grand.

rainbowstardrops · 18/12/2022 07:30

This can't be real!!! 😂

If it is it's not, I feel stifled on little Archer's behalf!

merrymelodies · 18/12/2022 07:30

Maybe talk to a therapist about your OTT expectations?

clpsmum · 18/12/2022 07:31

Omg he's
Not born yet!

Username6194 · 18/12/2022 07:31

Jesus Christ. Chill. How utterly ridiculous

Cosycover · 18/12/2022 07:32

Infact I take that back, he won't be grand if there are a million expectations placed upon him.

Wait until his personality develops and see what his interests are.

Lowkeyloopy · 18/12/2022 07:33

Poor poor kid! He’s bobbing about just being proud of himself for growing eyelashes and preparing his first meconium poo, blissfully unaware that Mum and Dad are getting ready to dump expectations and parental pressure on him as soon as he takes his first breath.

Also, you know a sure fire way to make your child completely uninterested in a hobby? Mum and Dad being desperate for them to do it. Dial it down a bit (a lot!) or you’ll be back on here in 10 years tearing your hair out because your gifted angel is wasting his potential by refusing to practice the piano…

jamsandwich1 · 18/12/2022 07:35

I think you’ve left it a bit late to be thinking about these kinds of things. Normally this is all sorted before conception but fingers crossed he’ll still be relatively well rounded.