There is a microfilament line between anger and disappointment. Quite a bit of my summer parenting time is spent being angry. On occasion that anger creeps past that barrier into the darker realm of disappointment. In the month of July my middle son has lost a Kindle and shattered an Ipad. He’s cried and complained about what he considers to be over harsh punishment, but what am I supposed to expect from a newly minted six year old (3 months at 6 yrs)? What I get is a terrible amount of heartache and broken stuff. What I get is a mountain of self doubt and questions such as, am I raising another Dahmer? What is a parent supposed to do with difficult children?
There is no legitimate manual for parenting–I know because I’ve read quite a few. All they ever remind you of is how each child and each environment is different. Perhaps the one great tip they all do offer is that kids learn from watching parents and siblings. They do as we do, which is why my boys are gamers, athletes, and lazy. They are also blissfully unaware of the behind-the-scenes drama and trauma that goes into giving them a better life than what I had. Sometimes I think it is a good thing, and sometimes I wonder aloud if my kids are better served by struggling the way I did as a kid and not having access to computers, Ipads, video games, etc.
The question boils down to two key components for me: WIthout the trappings of technology, will my kids be at an advantage in a technological disadvantage? WIth the tech, will they fail to develop the creativity and good working habits of kids who are left to no other devices than hard work?
Well, that’s enough writing for now. The two kids who aren’t grounded are outside shooting hoops and I want to join in.