Your Parenting Matters

This morning, it is taking me a little while to get started. I have had company all week and I am taking my time. I flipped on Good Morning America and they are having much ado about a new mini van that has 3 channels of TV the kids can watch while traveling in the car. Now, at first glance, this seems like a great upgrade. No more need for DVD’s. The kids can add to their average overload of TV watching everytime they get into the family car. And, not only that, it also diminishes the time the family is together actually talking and interacting.

I remember the phrase “are we there yet”. I handled that by always responding “10 more minutes” no matter how much longer it was. It didn’t take long before they stopped asking. Also, we had all kinds of games we played to past the time and have the time in the car be fun and a way to relate to one another. We looked for signs that started with every letter of the alphabet, we sang songs, we shared with one another.

Personally, I think it is okay for children to learn to wait, to be bored, to be without entertainment 24/7. It builds character!

I shudder when I see a family out on Sunday and every person has earplugs on listening to their own music with zoned out faces. Instead of being so separate, these are opportunities to connect with each other. Especially as your children get older. They are captive audiences in the car. It is a time to find out what they think, a time where they can contribute their ideas and just good old sharing about what is going on in everyone’s life.