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Bill's Parenting Advice
October 26, 2007

“The worst thing I ever did was to bring the Internet into my home”

Those words were spoken by a client of mine years ago and I’ve never forgotten them. As my three teenaged daughters move further and further away from me, the process is accelerated by IMs, text messages and Facebook.  It really sucks.

When a friend has a his/her first baby, I give two pieces of advice:
1.    Take your child to a car wash and tell them, “This is Disney.”  You will save a fortune.  As an alternative, use an escalator. 
2.    Tell your child that horses are evil and are to be feared.  Again, the money savings will be enough to retire at 40.

Now, I think I will add a third piece of advice: Do not give your children access to the Internet.

If, however, you are already in clutches of technology and, like me, your kids are already addicted (and I mean, addicted!), have one Internet/cell phone free day a week.  Think of it as a blizzard once a week that knocks out your power.  Remember that as a kid? Your Dad would light candles and you’d be forced to do something as a family.  The result?  A conversation.  A memory. No drama.  Family.

Trust me.  I’m a Dad.
 

Posted by Bill Farquharson on October 26, 2007 | Comments (0)