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?

I concur with the wooden toys though - this things sting when they're hurled at speed

*those

Well you sound like you're doing just fine OP

Don't let FB or the way other people choose to parent, doubt yourself.

If I formulate an opinion on how you address a poster, then I am impinging on your right of self expression Worra?
HOw does that make me the thought police?
Have I come round you house looking for secret printing press or anything?
Isn't this a place where opinions are swapped? Or just yours?
I don't agree she is wrong or lacking in self confidence feeling what she does in facr I think it is pretty common these days.

I also have twins, though mine are 23 so nearly through the worst , and when they were 18 months I thought I was winning if they were fed, clean and were quiet during Countdown.

Oh for goodness sake lola, I feel like I've just opened a punnet of strawberries and one of those annoying little fruit flies has escaped.

Will you be visiting other threads with a clipboard and critiquing everyone else's posts?

Or have I just got lucky today?

Quiet during Countdown? Sounds like the dream right there.

At this point we think we are doing well if there've been no recent trips to A&E (all me luckily, not them yet!)

worra just started a course of steroids for pneumonia so maybe your ship sailed in today.
Aren't you glad you came though!

They listened to Countdown in the womb, hence the sound of the music having a calming effect. Ds is severely autistic and it still works on him now. Plus, both him and his sister knew all their letters by the time they started nursery purely because of my addiction.

Oh does it matter? If you're questioning it maybe you could be doing more.
Mumsnet seems full of people desperate to slag anyone seen to be 'trying' or 'showing off'.

Parents can encourage but it's the raw material that counts as much.I grew up in a family that didn't encourage education at all. My sisters didn't even get O levels, all have had a lifetime of NMW jobs. All very hard working women but not ambitious, we had a very weird bohemian childhood with an ex showbiz Mother. I ended up going to University and working in higher education for almost twenty five years. I am one of six dc, I have a different Father to everyone else, there is a research paper in my family dynamic for sure.

I believe in play doh, rolling around in mud and a bed time story at night time.

I was raised by a very lazy alcoholic... I spent my life in front of the tv and was mostly ignored and treated with contempt. I was never read to or helped with homework... (literally not once). And I got a degree, a Masters and am quite successful professionally.
The reason I say this, is because I feel guilty that my son doesn’t do endless crafts, and sensory play and themed boxes etc. But I had none of it and I’m alright!!
(I obviously love him and try my best compared to my shit mother, but I don’t feel I do as well as some of the insta mums!)

Face book / insta mums are completely full of shit.
I've just had the day from hell with my kids... I'm never gonna post that on insta! Photos of where my toddler empties her potty all over the floor will never happen!
You only see the polished side of life on social media. Don't fall into the trap of believing it's true
We are all loosing our shit on this journey... some are just better at hiding it