PARENTING 101--BEING THERE
Breaking news: Dads love their kids--and are spending more time with
them! According to new statistics released from the Department of Labor,
today's dads spend 50% more time with their children than dads did 25
years ago. A post-911 baby boom, a return to the basics of family priority,
new technologies which allow offsite work and a corporate culture which
is more accepting of family values are some of the factors which have
led to more family time for fathers.
In the movie "Being There", Peter Sellers encounters a series
of fortunate events, not by working hard or having a genius IQ, but
simply by being there. For parents who are unsure of what to do for
their children and what to do with their time together, start with "being
there". Begin with proximity. Be home when they are home, even
if in a different room or outside. Progress to the same room, and eventually
to the same room and same activity.
Be there for your children after school when you can. Be there for
your child at dinner five or six times a week (yes, five or six). Studies
prove this one gesture lowers the incidence of underage drinking, drug
use and other potentially harmful behaviors. You've seen the TV commercial
emphasizing how kids will listen to their parents--dinner is a good
time for it.
The reality that dad and/or mom work to support the family is not lost.
Some dads work two jobs to make ends meet. Many of today’s households
have a single parent. Others have extended families with step-parents.
Some jobs require days of travel or long hours. There is no question
that it takes more effort to find time in these situations.
The good news is that it doesn't cost money or require a trip to Disneyland
or a vacation at the beach. There is no son or daughter too old or too
young for this to be applied. Awareness and recognition are the first
steps. Follow with proximity, then, activity.
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Readers may send questions to this
email address. This column is for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice.
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