I went to a Music Night at my daughters’ school this week and there was a boy in front of me with an iPad and earphones and his hands so tight over his ears they were bulging redness (he looked exactly like this photo for one hour). He squeezed harder every time anyone played any music whatsoever or sang even a note.
Ok this was not Roy Thompson Hall but it was pretty good.
And it was only an hour long.
But oh no junior has to be entertained, stimulated and assuaged for every second of his precious life.
If I was his mom I would have clipped him, made him sit up straight and clap politely at the end of each peice. Afterwards when we got home I would test him on each element. (Ok that part is not true)
Yes, pass the crayons and the paper placemat when your kids are 2 -4 at a restaurant and you are trying to self medicate quietly with that one perfect glass of shiraz. But eventually we all need to grow up. Have you ever seen the family of 5 at a restaurant when the kids are s 8,11 and 14? Or 15, 18 and 21? Everyone has a screen and dad is leading the pack pinging the world about absolutely nothing while mom applies lipstick and shops for Itunes songs. Family time in the 21 st century.
I get a sinking feeling when people normalize lousy behaviour. It makes me very nervous. Haven’t we all met people who avoid all discomfort only to find the slightest discomfort will de rail them? Discomfort is like training for anything – it builds up tolerance and strength. Not every moment has to be a Disney moment. Don’t get me started on the “need” for cellphones back in the classroom.
Would it be ok for us to just enjoy one singular event at a time? For what it is?
This stuff pisses me off. Is it torture to be at your sister’s music concert?
Ok, ok – let me put it to you this way- Isn’t torture a part of a normal, balanced childhood?
We took our students from grades 5-8 to see a Play. Before the show started, a couple of boys took out their iPod touches. I looked at them, appalled. They wondered what was wrong. I told them to take in the atmosphere, admire the setting on the stage, talk to their friends next to them. The iPod touch will still be there later that day. But this moment won’t.
beautiful Wendy.
could you start talking to all the parents about this? We need a dramatic intervention.