None taken, friend. I understand that, but I still think about these things a lot. I’m still young enough where I could have a happy accident, even if we’re not trying. My mind is always on how to be a good father if it did.
It also often makes people prone to establishing rules and lines in the sand that they’ll never adhere to because they underestimate the will and ingenuity of young humans lol
It’s not so much choosing the practical over the idealistic as it is about not preconceiving notions of success that are unrealistic and - more importantly - Would not necessarily bring about the results you want anyway.
Remember the entire reason for having any sort of rules in your home is to establish a certain culture and value system. Banning your kid from watching TV is not going to create a healthy relationship with TV, in my opinion. Instead, you have to put in the work and watch stuff with them. Be aware of the programming that is out there. Be knowledgeable and available for when your kid has questions. Fostering a better understanding of media while creating a safe corner for your kids to process things that maybe are more difficult will probably lead to better results.
Everyone is different, but that is how I personally view it. It’s not about making sure my kids don’t watch too much TV. It’s about the role that TV plays in their lives and my relationship with them.
And on a simpler level: it’s not just about the TV. It’s also about what’s on it. Shows like Bluey are fantastic programming for the whole family.
That’s hopefully the plan if that time does come. Two of my three sisters lived at home and single while raising their first kids, so I tried to help them out as much as I could. I wouldn’t be completely blind going in. I’d be fretting a lot at first, though. The world would seem much more dangerous with a kid to worry about.
None taken, friend. I understand that, but I still think about these things a lot. I’m still young enough where I could have a happy accident, even if we’re not trying. My mind is always on how to be a good father if it did.
Not having the Futurama brain slug that comes with having a child makes you a more objective and better observer of parenting in my opinion.
It also often makes people prone to establishing rules and lines in the sand that they’ll never adhere to because they underestimate the will and ingenuity of young humans lol
Probably true. Idealism always loses out to material reality.
It’s not so much choosing the practical over the idealistic as it is about not preconceiving notions of success that are unrealistic and - more importantly - Would not necessarily bring about the results you want anyway.
Remember the entire reason for having any sort of rules in your home is to establish a certain culture and value system. Banning your kid from watching TV is not going to create a healthy relationship with TV, in my opinion. Instead, you have to put in the work and watch stuff with them. Be aware of the programming that is out there. Be knowledgeable and available for when your kid has questions. Fostering a better understanding of media while creating a safe corner for your kids to process things that maybe are more difficult will probably lead to better results.
Everyone is different, but that is how I personally view it. It’s not about making sure my kids don’t watch too much TV. It’s about the role that TV plays in their lives and my relationship with them.
And on a simpler level: it’s not just about the TV. It’s also about what’s on it. Shows like Bluey are fantastic programming for the whole family.
As a successful father I’ll tell you the secret. Raise excellent humans.
That’s hopefully the plan if that time does come. Two of my three sisters lived at home and single while raising their first kids, so I tried to help them out as much as I could. I wouldn’t be completely blind going in. I’d be fretting a lot at first, though. The world would seem much more dangerous with a kid to worry about.