Most people celebrate Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day, for that matter) as a special occasion for – wait for it – being a parent. After all, we made a conscious decision to raise another human being. And that’s a wonderful thing.
But there is an underlying, often overlooked discussion which rarely draws attention. Foremost, when did we give permission for a technological screen (television, smartphone, or computer) to interact with our child at greater frequency than with us, our own flesh and blood?
Let that sentence sink in.
Such modern-day “conveniences” appear to water down and deteriorate our familial relationship with our sons and daughters. While said amenities certainly have their place and do offer some peace and quiet to boot, it detracts from precious parent-child bonding time.
And let’s be authentic, kids grow up fast. Many kids born in 2000 can legally drive. That’s a terrifying thought!
Might we be better off purging our technological gadgets which one could argue merely serve to detach and ultimately undermine us from developing a deeper and more authentic connection with our child and family unit?
Do we not owe it to ourselves our children to simply be with them?
When did we transform into a population which opts to get beat out by a smartphone?
Instead, shouldn’t we pledge to explore the world with our littles and bigs?
Rather than “occupying” our kids with an electronic device, we should choose instead to have a heart-to-heart with our son or daughter this Father’s Day (or Mother’s Day), and every day thereafter.
Sure, we know they love skateboarding, painting, or dare I say, reading. But jump into the deep end to uncover the reason why our child is enamored.
Choose to discover the brilliance of our children, young and old, and be mindful of the verbal and nonverbal messages we emit.
Wake up with a clear purpose: commit to being entirely present with our child and bringing an insatiable desire to learn with (rather than about) our littles and bigs, so as to challenge minds, bodies, and curiosity.
In short, just be present.
Often, children, young and old, just need a slight nudge to involve themselves in a conversation, activity, or game; I know I do. If you’re doing an activity and desire for them to partake, they’ll often watch first, then choose to participate when they feel comfortable. This development is true with kids as well as adults.
Remember this Father’s Day, and every day beyond, age is just a number as we are all children. And we should act like it. Be curious. Be adventurous. Be kind. And be a kid. With our kid.