Post by kissy on May 9, 2016 6:20:00 GMT -7
I get the point some of these memes as of late are trying to make. The whole 'I'm so glad my child hood was like this (outside playing) and not like this (staring at an electronic device). But the fact is BOTH can happen and the latter is simply a HUGE part of our kids future.
'Free range parenting' as it was in the late 70's and 80's when I was a kid is simply no longer allowed in a lot of places in this country. The fact is my almost 9 year old walks home from school in the afternoons, by himself, and someone might think that's unacceptable and call CPS. Forget sending him to the park with his friends. Riding his bike in the neighborhood? Yeah, if I could get the folks in here to slow the fuck down.
Then there are the people who bitch about mom who is on her phone while her kids play at the park, instead of playing with them. Playing WITH them at the park is some new thing because IF mom was there she was chatting with other moms OR she was reading a book or a magazine. So why is a phone any different?
I remember when Ryan was really little and we'd go out with friends who had older kids and they'd immediately pull out the portable dvd player and I was like oh hell naw, these kids need to just behave! Ha! I love the fact that we can go somewhere with Ry and he can take his device and entertain himself while the adults chat. That doesn't mean he takes it everywhere/everytime, but yeah, there are definitely times and I don't see what's so wrong with that. J got into a bad habit of letting Ry bring his iPad anytime they got in the car, no matter how long the drive and no matter how far we were going. Nope, not necessary and I've cut that off.
It seems to me there is simply a balance, one that as parents we are still learning how to acclimate to. And in that we are having to learn how to deal with the constant judging that is put forth via social media--it's not even about the stink eye anymore!
'Free range parenting' as it was in the late 70's and 80's when I was a kid is simply no longer allowed in a lot of places in this country. The fact is my almost 9 year old walks home from school in the afternoons, by himself, and someone might think that's unacceptable and call CPS. Forget sending him to the park with his friends. Riding his bike in the neighborhood? Yeah, if I could get the folks in here to slow the fuck down.
Then there are the people who bitch about mom who is on her phone while her kids play at the park, instead of playing with them. Playing WITH them at the park is some new thing because IF mom was there she was chatting with other moms OR she was reading a book or a magazine. So why is a phone any different?
I remember when Ryan was really little and we'd go out with friends who had older kids and they'd immediately pull out the portable dvd player and I was like oh hell naw, these kids need to just behave! Ha! I love the fact that we can go somewhere with Ry and he can take his device and entertain himself while the adults chat. That doesn't mean he takes it everywhere/everytime, but yeah, there are definitely times and I don't see what's so wrong with that. J got into a bad habit of letting Ry bring his iPad anytime they got in the car, no matter how long the drive and no matter how far we were going. Nope, not necessary and I've cut that off.
It seems to me there is simply a balance, one that as parents we are still learning how to acclimate to. And in that we are having to learn how to deal with the constant judging that is put forth via social media--it's not even about the stink eye anymore!
There are two other points that I'll add to your spot on observations.
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