I say this because in earlier times, there was none of this business about constant sports practices, extracurriculars, SAT prep, constant doctor’s visits, college funds, expensive Christmases, and on and on and on.
Children weren’t considered tiny princes and princesses — they were just kids, and you fed them, kissed them goodnight, taught them to read and to work, and otherwise left them to their own devices out in the yard or in the woods. Childhood was not some kind of a high-drama summer camp, nor was it a status symbol for public display among the parents.https://x.com/shagbark_hick/status/1927009379280167313?t=36XrtkzWP8ztPqkFiTJAxQ&s=19
I think both models are stupid. During this long weekend, I’ve spent hours and hours walking with my kid, just hanging out, ambling around aimlessly, talking, goofing off. This is the best part of having a child. Spending time together with no goal, no destination, no educational purpose. Just people being together. In both quoted examples, there’s no being together in the moment. It’s all kind of functional and the goal is always to get rid of the child in some way.
I’ve had the most extraordinary, amazing time this weekend. We didn’t do anything, we just monkeyed around a lot. And it was so enjoyable. My father used to tell me that spending time with your child like this—doing nothing, hanging out—was the whole purpose of life. I didn’t understand it then but now I do.
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