I Have Been a Lazy Daddy
We live in the ever increasing technological super highway world, and I have been a bad daddy to my four year old twins, R and M.
Over the last four weeks I have had a health scare. In fact I have been to the doctors this year more times than I have in my entire life.
On a Monday and Tuesday I am a full time stay at home dad to my four year old twins and I have to admit I have not been very patient. The likely reason is that I have been worried about my health and I have constantly found excuses not to be the hands on dad that I am usually. Here are a few of things that I have done for peace and quiet and I feel that makes me a bad daddy.
1. When I simply didn’t want to play or do an activity with them and you want to sit there and do nothing. Well, I found the solution in this technological age called You Tube Kids. I gave the girls my phone and an ipad, show them the app and away you go. They would watch it for hours. I know I allowed them to watch it for far too long, but it allowed me to sit in the middle of them, rest my eyes and they didn’t say a word.
2. There are so many ways I have found in the 21st century to occupy your children without having to do much yourself. There is chromecast, a wonderful invention which casts shows from your phone to the TV. It’s amazing, wonderful and Netflix is just fantastic! The girls will sit and watch it for hours and when they get a favourite there are a zillion episodes to watch.
3. There are games on the tv that they can play for hours with again little involvement from me and again it is something that can occupy them for hours.
I imagine you starting to realise that there is a recurring theme here and it’s all centred around technology and the TV, and after a few weeks of this I realised that I am actually letting my four year old twins down. I am turning them into technology zombies just so I can have peace and quiet.
So I vowed to change. I realised that girls were watching far too much TV.
It’s time to get out and about. Back to the park, walks outside and generally enjoying our area where we live.
When weather is not permitting, I need to start doing more craft or learning activities and practising their letters and maths.
In today’s world it’s so easy to use all the advantages of technology, but I have come to the conclusion that it needs to be used in very small doses and limit their use of the internet because there will come a time where I won’t be able too.
Technology and the internet are truly amazing inventions, but let’s not forget how much fun can be had with the simple things in life.
Would love to know what you think.
5 Comments
Natalie
November 15, 2016 at 3:27 pm
We are all guilty of this at one time or another. I for one know that I do this sort of thing when I’m feeling poorly or if I just need some time to myself. I think the fact that you have pin pointed the issue and are trying to rectify it shows that you know something needs to change and your willing to do that. Don’t beat yourself up over it please
jeremy@thirstydaddy
November 15, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Agree with Natalie. I think we all have our times when we just need some peace and quiet for one reason or another. We do our best, but nobody is able to be “on” all the time. As with most things in life, moderation is the key. We also have to remember that this is the world they are growing up in. I think that a lot of phone zombies, whether teens or adults, get that way because they didn’t grow up with it.
Sarah Howe
November 16, 2016 at 7:50 am
We all have these periods. The gremlin has been ill and watched more telly this week and similarly when her sister arrived we used it more. It’s such a small period of time and you needed that head space. I think as long as you realise it and make the effort no harm done. Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
Fran Back With A Bump
November 16, 2016 at 8:19 am
TV and technology definitely has its place but I agree it needs to be limited. I’d much rather get out and about and enjoy time as a family rather than staring at the TV #bestandworst
Pickle and Poppet
January 17, 2017 at 9:14 pm
We are all guilty of this. I did the same thing today – rough night with no sleep as baby has a cold and my boy wanted to play and I distracted him with films and CBeebies games on my phone. I vowed never to do this! And to be honest, going for a walk would have done us all good. The crazy thing is, if I asked my boy would he prefer to go for a walk or a technology based activity, he would pick the walk.
I agree to everything in moderation but sometimes it is easy to take the easy option.