Comments on: Would you rather be on the internet or playing with your kids? http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:56:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-103064 Petulant Pixie Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:32:21 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-103064 Yup, that was the article. Yup, that was the article.

]]> By: anthromomma http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-103058 anthromomma Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:33:28 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-103058 Ok, I just looked for the article to which you were referring, PP-- I must have missed that the first time around. (for anyone else who cares, it can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=397672&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source= ). Wow. There is a huge difference between being "brave" enough to admit that maybe you don't love every minute with your kids, and being so unbelievably self-centered that you can't ever spend an hour doing something that's important to your child just because you find it boring. Ok, I just looked for the article to which you were referring, PP– I must have missed that the first time around. (for anyone else who cares, it can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=397672&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source= ). Wow. There is a huge difference between being “brave” enough to admit that maybe you don’t love every minute with your kids, and being so unbelievably self-centered that you can’t ever spend an hour doing something that’s important to your child just because you find it boring.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102717 Petulant Pixie Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:33:40 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102717 Antrho--I did read that Ayelet Waldman article and it was very weird, too. But, the specific one I was remembering was written by a British mom, we debated on IP, too. She just went on and on about how everything her kids do is boring and how they've just learned not to expect her to do anything with them anymore. Antrho–I did read that Ayelet Waldman article and it was very weird, too. But, the specific one I was remembering was written by a British mom, we debated on IP, too. She just went on and on about how everything her kids do is boring and how they’ve just learned not to expect her to do anything with them anymore.

]]> By: julymom http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102550 julymom Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:50:48 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102550 I've played approximately 8,473,527 rounds of Candy Land recently and sweet Jeebus is it boring (though trying to figure out how to lose without making it obvious can on occassion be a challenge). I'm not much of a crawl around on the floor kind of mom either. I do read to him and sometimes come up with fun stuff to do, like cut out clip art that I've printed, glue it popsicle sticks and have a little puppet show, but I am so not a I-have-the-entire-day-planned-down-to-the-last-second-and-everything-will-be-fun-and-perfect kind of mom. Also, I like to watch TV, and fortunately he's cool watching TV in his room (bad Mommy!) while I veg in the living room and catch up on all the zany USA shows (Characters Welcome!). I’ve played approximately 8,473,527 rounds of Candy Land recently and sweet Jeebus is it boring (though trying to figure out how to lose without making it obvious can on occassion be a challenge). I’m not much of a crawl around on the floor kind of mom either. I do read to him and sometimes come up with fun stuff to do, like cut out clip art that I’ve printed, glue it popsicle sticks and have a little puppet show, but I am so not a I-have-the-entire-day-planned-down-to-the-last-second-and-everything-will-be-fun-and-perfect kind of mom. Also, I like to watch TV, and fortunately he’s cool watching TV in his room (bad Mommy!) while I veg in the living room and catch up on all the zany USA shows (Characters Welcome!).

]]> By: DrBookgrrl http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102546 DrBookgrrl Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:39:24 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102546 There's a happy medium, isn't there? I mean, sure, I'll play games or farm or whatever with the little one for a while, or shake the rattle and bounce the baby on my knee - and I love to do that, because I love to watch her grin, and then giggle, and then laugh - but I'm not going to do it all day. I'm going to do my thing, and you do your thing, little person (as long as it's not watch tv), and that's how you learn that the world is not all about you - a lesson, I might add, that is being lost by a large swath of today's kids, thanks to helicopter parents. There’s a happy medium, isn’t there? I mean, sure, I’ll play games or farm or whatever with the little one for a while, or shake the rattle and bounce the baby on my knee - and I love to do that, because I love to watch her grin, and then giggle, and then laugh - but I’m not going to do it all day. I’m going to do my thing, and you do your thing, little person (as long as it’s not watch tv), and that’s how you learn that the world is not all about you - a lesson, I might add, that is being lost by a large swath of today’s kids, thanks to helicopter parents.

]]> By: anthromomma http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102483 anthromomma Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:22:50 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102483 Are you talking about Ayelet Waldman, PP? Ms. I'd throw my kids in front of a bullet to save my husband's life? Yeah, I agree. Shitty. I would rather gouge out my left eye than play 'cars' or 'ponies,' and my kids don't let me play blocks with them anymore because I turn into the crazed block dictator. But that's ok, because I really and truly believe that children need a lot more unstructured free time than they are generally allowed in our society. And since that philosophy meshes with my life goal of being as lazy as possible, I'm golden. Are you talking about Ayelet Waldman, PP? Ms. I’d throw my kids in front of a bullet to save my husband’s life? Yeah, I agree. Shitty.

I would rather gouge out my left eye than play ‘cars’ or ‘ponies,’ and my kids don’t let me play blocks with them anymore because I turn into the crazed block dictator. But that’s ok, because I really and truly believe that children need a lot more unstructured free time than they are generally allowed in our society. And since that philosophy meshes with my life goal of being as lazy as possible, I’m golden.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102448 Petulant Pixie Sat, 04 Aug 2007 13:58:32 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102448 Well, the thing is, we're supposed to be BORED playing cars or farm animals. We're adults. Playing two-year-old activities is NOT mentally stimulating, it is NOT an age appropriate recreational activity. But, it needs to be done by someone, for the development of the kid. So, in a way, that sort of interaction IS like housework. Things need to be done that aren't necessarily fun, but you do them anyway (for a reasonable amount of time) to benefit someone else. I don't mind playing some tumble games with my little one. But, I refuse to play in the snow. Just won't do it. Luckily for me, dh and I have a balance. He's more into the snow play, the bike rides, playing tag and that sort of stuff. I read to the kids and have more verbal interaction--but even still, the stuff I read to my younger two isn't necessarily mentally stimulating to me, but I do enjoy it. So, it balances out. If I were alone, I would have to either suck it up and do ALL the play, or hire someone. The chick who wrote that other article way back about how her kids BORE her didn't mention ANYTHING in the article she enjoyed doing with her children. Nothing. The kids' books bored her. Games bored her. Playing imaginative games bored her. Her children were just totally beneath her and it bored her to tears to do anything with them. Now THAT is shitty, IMO. Well, the thing is, we’re supposed to be BORED playing cars or farm animals. We’re adults. Playing two-year-old activities is NOT mentally stimulating, it is NOT an age appropriate recreational activity. But, it needs to be done by someone, for the development of the kid. So, in a way, that sort of interaction IS like housework. Things need to be done that aren’t necessarily fun, but you do them anyway (for a reasonable amount of time) to benefit someone else.

I don’t mind playing some tumble games with my little one. But, I refuse to play in the snow. Just won’t do it. Luckily for me, dh and I have a balance. He’s more into the snow play, the bike rides, playing tag and that sort of stuff. I read to the kids and have more verbal interaction–but even still, the stuff I read to my younger two isn’t necessarily mentally stimulating to me, but I do enjoy it. So, it balances out. If I were alone, I would have to either suck it up and do ALL the play, or hire someone.

The chick who wrote that other article way back about how her kids BORE her didn’t mention ANYTHING in the article she enjoyed doing with her children. Nothing. The kids’ books bored her. Games bored her. Playing imaginative games bored her. Her children were just totally beneath her and it bored her to tears to do anything with them. Now THAT is shitty, IMO.

]]> By: Tess http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102342 Tess Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:18:06 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102342 I'm the 'lazy' mum, I prefer to read to them instead or joke around. I get so bored playing cars or 'farm animals' with them, I suppose I'm just not a 'natural' mother. Sue me I’m the ‘lazy’ mum, I prefer to read to them instead or joke around. I get so bored playing cars or ‘farm animals’ with them, I suppose I’m just not a ‘natural’ mother. Sue me

]]> By: Jessica http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102306 Jessica Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:48:34 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102306 I agree PP, when kids get a little older, they're more fun. I even wrote an article on how I was born to breed teenagers. Now that my older son is 9, we have much more fun than we ever have in the past. I like doing physical things with my kids and going places, like going swimming, going to Great America, the Zoo, movies, out to restaurants, the beach etc., but playing games or Thomas the Train -- no thanks. That bores me to tears. I think some parents are better at that stuff than others. I admit, I am not. I agree PP, when kids get a little older, they’re more fun. I even wrote an article on how I was born to breed teenagers. Now that my older son is 9, we have much more fun than we ever have in the past.

I like doing physical things with my kids and going places, like going swimming, going to Great America, the Zoo, movies, out to restaurants, the beach etc., but playing games or Thomas the Train — no thanks. That bores me to tears.

I think some parents are better at that stuff than others. I admit, I am not.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102295 Petulant Pixie Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:01:33 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/03/would-you-rather-be-on-the-internet-or-playing-with-your-kids/#comment-102295 In the middle. I think there is something to be said for on-the-floor play since for babies and toddlers it's about the only interaction that can happen on their terms. But, it doesn't need to be (and shouldn't be) huge amounts of time doing it. Playing with babies and toddlers isn't a huge amount of fun for adults in itself. The fun I have playing with them is seeing them have fun, because at that age it is all about them. I do love watching my 2 year-old laugh and squeal when I chase her around and catch her and that sort of thing. So, I do it, for about 10 minutes, because then it gets real old for me. But I do it a bunch of times every day because she gets a kick out of it and that's how we interact. Now, interacting with my 12 year-old IS fun for me, because we can read the same books and see the same movies and have real life conversations. When I'm doing things with groups of kids that age, I have fun. 12 year-olds are interesting people. Often more interesting than some of the adults I'm forced to interact with on a regular basis. Interacting with my 8 year-old is transitioning from the "it's all about her" phase to the being equally fun for both of us. It's not quite there yet, but it's getting there. In the middle. I think there is something to be said for on-the-floor play since for babies and toddlers it’s about the only interaction that can happen on their terms. But, it doesn’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) huge amounts of time doing it.

Playing with babies and toddlers isn’t a huge amount of fun for adults in itself. The fun I have playing with them is seeing them have fun, because at that age it is all about them. I do love watching my 2 year-old laugh and squeal when I chase her around and catch her and that sort of thing. So, I do it, for about 10 minutes, because then it gets real old for me. But I do it a bunch of times every day because she gets a kick out of it and that’s how we interact.

Now, interacting with my 12 year-old IS fun for me, because we can read the same books and see the same movies and have real life conversations. When I’m doing things with groups of kids that age, I have fun. 12 year-olds are interesting people. Often more interesting than some of the adults I’m forced to interact with on a regular basis.

Interacting with my 8 year-old is transitioning from the “it’s all about her” phase to the being equally fun for both of us. It’s not quite there yet, but it’s getting there.

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