Such a great reflection! I've noticed the pattern of frustrating toddler behavior drawing me towards my phone (as a distraction) in myself, and it prompts me to leave my phone in the other room as often as possible so it no longer feels like an option. The tricky part I've experienced trying to juggle work-from-home (with, admittedly, very limited work hours) is there is never really a time when my kiddos aren't around-- so I'm inevitably still ordering groceries, responding to e-mails, or writing posts in their presence. I do try to be transparent about what I'm doing, but they are still so young I'm not sure it resonates. But I love the reminder to be fully present.
When did parents start staying for practice? I was always dropped off for practice, and my mom would stay to watch games. I think if parents are expected to be at every moment of their child's activity, it is okay to tune out sometimes. Would he have had the same reaction if you were reading a book or chatting with another parent?
I think parents end up staying for practice because of timing & traffic, but I’m not sure. Kathryn Jezer-Morton wrote a great article about parents’ reliance on sports to feel like a good parent (it’s more nuanced than my summary) that I think you’d like. I ran cross country as a teenager and my mom went to three meets in three years. It used to bother me, but they are all day affairs and she had a job and three other children. It’s perfectly understandable to me now!
Great point. I remember my mom would sometimes stay at my dance lessons due to time and traffic but there was a waiting area for parents that was separate from the class, so she couldn't watch. Where I live now, people can walk their kids to practice and then seem to be required to stay for almost for liability's sake. Hopefully that will change as my son gets older, so for now we are just waiting for the drop off activities to begin!
I agree with you that we cannot wait for warnings or laws regarding social media for kids. Our job is right now. I hope, and pray, more parents will start taking action on this front!
Such a great reflection! I've noticed the pattern of frustrating toddler behavior drawing me towards my phone (as a distraction) in myself, and it prompts me to leave my phone in the other room as often as possible so it no longer feels like an option. The tricky part I've experienced trying to juggle work-from-home (with, admittedly, very limited work hours) is there is never really a time when my kiddos aren't around-- so I'm inevitably still ordering groceries, responding to e-mails, or writing posts in their presence. I do try to be transparent about what I'm doing, but they are still so young I'm not sure it resonates. But I love the reminder to be fully present.
When did parents start staying for practice? I was always dropped off for practice, and my mom would stay to watch games. I think if parents are expected to be at every moment of their child's activity, it is okay to tune out sometimes. Would he have had the same reaction if you were reading a book or chatting with another parent?
I think parents end up staying for practice because of timing & traffic, but I’m not sure. Kathryn Jezer-Morton wrote a great article about parents’ reliance on sports to feel like a good parent (it’s more nuanced than my summary) that I think you’d like. I ran cross country as a teenager and my mom went to three meets in three years. It used to bother me, but they are all day affairs and she had a job and three other children. It’s perfectly understandable to me now!
Great point. I remember my mom would sometimes stay at my dance lessons due to time and traffic but there was a waiting area for parents that was separate from the class, so she couldn't watch. Where I live now, people can walk their kids to practice and then seem to be required to stay for almost for liability's sake. Hopefully that will change as my son gets older, so for now we are just waiting for the drop off activities to begin!
I agree with you that we cannot wait for warnings or laws regarding social media for kids. Our job is right now. I hope, and pray, more parents will start taking action on this front!