We were miserable last week since DS' tooth was coming out, and he was fussy. Good that his tooth came out over the weekend!
I'm sorry you were miserable!
1) How do you know if you are pushing your child?
We started flashcards with DS when he was 2 months old. He had a very bad case of eczema, so flashcards distracted him from itching. We still do flashcards with him, and I sometimes quiz him. Is it "wrong" to quiz him?
My rule is that everything needs to be fun! When your DC starts to get bored and would prefer something else, but you would still continue I would consider it pushing the child. We do not do flashcards as I don't want to be "that mom" in ppl's minds, but if he enjoys it can not be harmful. For us books, markers and paper have been enough
I don't quiz DD to find out how much she knows or to teach her, I "quiz" sometimes when she needs to sit nicely in restaurant, just to keep her occupied. I draw things and she says what they are. I also do not decide what I will teach her next, I prefer the initiative to learn would come from her. Everything I wrote is just my opinions and only you know your child and what he needs to be happy. I have noticed my NEVER often changes when the situation changes
2) How do you know if you are spoiling your child?
When we get home, DS sometimes refuses to sit in his high chair unless we are eating. When he cries, we will pick him up from the high chair and read to him. Are we spoiling him?
Your DS is 8mo, I don't think you can spoil him at that age. It is good for him to see you eat too and we always picked DD up if she was crying
When he grows older you need to have some limits and be able to watch him throw a fit without giving him what he wants. For our DD it started at 10-11mo when she was walking and started her terrible one's. She grew out of it quite fast. Most of her friends remained as babies for longer and have fits now at 2.
