Triple The Dad

As Daddytypes notes , a writer at the NYTimes Magazine is apparently freaking over the impact television is having on his child.  Ok, so its not television the author fears but a Kindle loaded with Angry Birds (as well as a seperate television) but still, is this 1985 all over again ? Hey look , his kids are obsessed with technology.   To which I say: Good.  They better be.  Because their jobs, livelihoods, leisure time and life will likely be technology focused. I will say there is probably a big difference between his daughter playing Angry Birds and his son watching cartoons.  This is often part of the problem with “riffs” like this: they conflate technology into one big puddle when in reality each raindrop in that puddle is different and unique.  Angry Birds , for the two people out there who don’t know, is a nifty game involving thinking and physics and problem solving.  Television is more passive.  I’d take my kids playing Ang...

I fear my kids. Not like I fear becoming impoverished, or old.  And its not a fear like I had about vampires when I was 10.  But its bad enough that there are days when I literally hate coming out of my office to go take over care of the kids. Partly because, despite never occurring in 23 months, I’m afraid they will one day just fall apart.  They will start crying for a reason I can’t understand and never do.  And it doesn’t have to be in a public setting; I’m talking about in my own home. But most its because I’m plodding.  I enjoy a meandering routine allowing for exploration and to be distracted by whatever strikes my fancy.  If you have children, you know this is not a demeanor well-suited for children.  If you don’t have children, I’m telling you now: this is not a demeanor well-suited for children. I enjoy the slow pace of activities like reading and chess.  Don’t get me wrong; the kids love to read and my kids could...