To not be trying to turn my boys into prodigies?

[FancyNewBeesly]

I have twin boys who are nearly 1.5. I play with them, given them toys that encourage problem solving etc and encourage them to use them, I try to read to them (although they currently have no interest in sitting and looking at a book), I sing to them, etc. But I do also let them watch CBeebies etc.

Meanwhile, many of the mums I know make daily Facebook posts with filtered photos of their offspring thoroughly enjoying their "texture walls" and tuff trays and giant bloody wooden rainbow things, surrounded by posters of motivational phrases about how wonderful they are...

Is this really necessary? Or am I condemning my children to a life of mediocrity?

Different strokes for different folks.

Those people have deliberately staged those pictures
They can use all the flash cards and listen to all the baby Einstein they want; come reception, their children won't be any different to anyone else's. Worry not

I’m a big advocate that CBeebies IS educational

Fwiw I believe in down time and self directed play

Facebook parenting.

It's bullshit. Trust me.

I have nothing whatsoever against those mums or any mums really - except some of their posts seem deliberately designed to make other people feel bad about themselves, which sucks in my opinion.

And I agree, I've learnt an awful lot from Hey Duggee ;)

It's because they have a singleton and they're bored to shit. As you were

@FancyNewBeesly

I have one of the mums from DCs school on Facebook. She often posts almost goody shite about how amazing her son is.

The reality is very different. She's now referring to herself as an autism parent. (He doesn't have autism), I can only imagine to make herself feel better for his behaviour.

It's bollocks, and the arsehole parents who post the holier than thou stuff are usually only doing it because they are aware of how shit reality is

They're 1 and a half. At that age they need very little more than safe playing spaces, fresh air, room to run around and explore and the chance to fiddle around with stuff that isn't dangerous. And plenty of your attention. This is the side of the parenting industry I really hate: all those so-called professionals ready to tell you you aren't putting the right intonation into your speech or are depriving them of the chance to do Baby Shakespeare or Toddler Latin. And Facebook is nicknamed Fakebook for a reason.

Honey...come over here to the old hands corner.
IGNORE THEM...'KAY!
If you think this is a pain in the hole, wait till you get to the school gates. So, I would strongly advise you pace yourself. Meet like minded ladies with like minded kiddies who all get on and like to eat mud.
Nothing wrong with it.
Did Einstein no harm.
Relax. They are shitting themselves too if you think about it. God help them.

And... dunno if I should post this...

I know a pretty famous vlogger who has a very popular fitness and lifestyle blog and YouTube channel. To the viewer she's this calm, all together parent we all wish we could be.

She's a complete sham.

There are plenty of studies on nature vs nurture, and most of them agree that nature overpowers nurture in the long run. Baby Einstein doesn't make a lick of difference.

Oh God Deragngedmermaid, you should see what our early doors prodigy is up to these days. the 10 minute walk to school is a nightmare for anyone in his way. he is 10. I think secondary school is going to be interesting for him.
Some of those over eager mums are really not doing the kids many favours. Imagine you have been told, on repeat, whilst rolling in our own poo that you are an unparalleld genius, only to discover on entering secondary school that you most certainly are not.
Long drop down

derangedmermaid not too far of topic...remember that vlogger, woman who claimed she had cured her cancer by diet and conned untold numbers of people only to have to admit it was all a bag of shit.

This primping of life as entertainment for oneself and others is wearing thin but we are still on here aren't we. Though the really full on fluffers and stagers have been weeded out. I think its best to get rid before I shred my eyelids.

At 1.5 all my DS wanted to do was stagger around my house trashing everything while eating cheese cubes. I pretty much let him crack on with it.

You sound like you're lacking in confidence/self-esteem OP?

If so, it's probably best to stay away from FB for a while

Each to their own way of parenting.

I believe cuddles are the thing - certainly in my book!

Worra she is a new mum. I think we all feel a bit like that. She is finding her own way of parenting but it doesn't happen in the dark. We do compare and contrast and worry that we aren't meeting the targets. Just we don't realise the other lot are thinking the same way.
You know that, but OP doesn't. Don't patronize her concerns.

She's not a new mum, lolaflores. The kids are nearly a year and a half old.

She does in my opinion sound as though she's lacking in self confidence and FB will not help with that, especially if she finds filtered photos annoying.

Ignore fb - it's easy to get a couple of pictures of kids looking angelic and perfect family. It dies not reflect the reality of the day. I've often found on the worst days I have the best photos because I'm desperate to record the few moments of peace rather than the screaming, crying and tantrumming that took 99.9% of the day!

Also my 4 yr old recognised a sunfish in the museum, talks about friction and tells me about saturns rings all thanks to cbeebies! It is educational. As long as you interact with your kids occasionally tv is fine

Actually plastic toys are far better than wooden ones because they hurt less if hurled at your head.

Worra Lighten up, she just said what perhaps lots of other young mums might be feeling. Not sure it really deserves the tone of contempt in your comments.
But. Each to their own.

I'm not really sure what your problem is here, lolaflores.

Or has someone put you in charge of how everyone else posts?

Low self-esteem? No. But I am new to parenting (they are my first), and having 16 month olds is very different to having 12 month olds, 9 month olds and so on. Plus having two at the same time sort of ups the ante - no chance to learn from my mistakes like I would if I'd had them separately and screwed up the first one (kidding).