05-15-2003, 03:43 PM
Behind the humor lies a truth, though. It's being discovered worldwide (with the first-world nations at least) that children are being subjected to far too much stress from "organized playtime". Definitely only a first-world issue, though... most of the rest of the world's children are more concerned with having enough food, finding shelter and dodging bullets. Isn't it interesting how your priorities change in those situations? <_<
However, for those of us lucky enough to have the leisure to discover new ways of developing a personal psychosis, this ranks right up there with the most successful. It's brought "Keeping up with the Joneses" to a brand new, sad level.
My own observations fell to a neighbor of mine: A mother of three unable to say the word "no". Involved in EVERYTHING that crossed her line-of-sight; her days were filled to the brim with activities, requirements and responsibilities. And THEN there were her kids, ferried around in their minivan which was on the road Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm. Harried and harassed, overbooked and overwhelmed, she finally saw the light when her oldest son sleepwalked his way outside and into the minivan at 5 am and buckled himself into his usual seat. Going outside to wake him up, he looked up at her (still asleep) and said "Where do we need to go now, Mom?". :blink:
I have no solution, of course, beyond what I practice in my own home with my own daughter. It's a constant learning process.
However, for those of us lucky enough to have the leisure to discover new ways of developing a personal psychosis, this ranks right up there with the most successful. It's brought "Keeping up with the Joneses" to a brand new, sad level.
My own observations fell to a neighbor of mine: A mother of three unable to say the word "no". Involved in EVERYTHING that crossed her line-of-sight; her days were filled to the brim with activities, requirements and responsibilities. And THEN there were her kids, ferried around in their minivan which was on the road Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm. Harried and harassed, overbooked and overwhelmed, she finally saw the light when her oldest son sleepwalked his way outside and into the minivan at 5 am and buckled himself into his usual seat. Going outside to wake him up, he looked up at her (still asleep) and said "Where do we need to go now, Mom?". :blink:
I have no solution, of course, beyond what I practice in my own home with my own daughter. It's a constant learning process.
Garnered Wisdom --
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.