GOD I MISS TEST PATTERNS
He held an iPad before he could hold an eating utensil. Spoon fed numbers, shapes, colors before he could speak clearly his need to piss or shit. Someone else has to change the diapers which is not a wholly unpleasant distraction. Unfortunately there are no Three Stooges reruns on his iPad to really educate him.
© M Durfee
9/29/17
My 3 year old grandson lately has started crying when grandpa enters the room. Apparently I am the only one who dare frustrate him with a no and telling him to use his own hands to hold the spoon and fork with. Damn the consequences; if I am going to alienate my kids and their children then I say do it early and do it often.
This a Friday 55, a practice initiated by the irrepressible G-man now off to that culinary coal fired brick oven heaven. Want to cook one up? Give your 55 a link to VerseEscape.
He held an iPad before he could hold an eating utensil. Spoon fed numbers, shapes, colors before he could speak clearly his need to piss or shit. Someone else has to change the diapers which is not a wholly unpleasant distraction. Unfortunately there are no Three Stooges reruns on his iPad to really educate him.
© M Durfee
9/29/17
My 3 year old grandson lately has started crying when grandpa enters the room. Apparently I am the only one who dare frustrate him with a no and telling him to use his own hands to hold the spoon and fork with. Damn the consequences; if I am going to alienate my kids and their children then I say do it early and do it often.
This a Friday 55, a practice initiated by the irrepressible G-man now off to that culinary coal fired brick oven heaven. Want to cook one up? Give your 55 a link to VerseEscape.
Poets, writers, commentators, hog farmers and all others welcome. No subject is taboo, no poetry is bad, and all participants kick ass.
some one has to do it, man!
ReplyDeleteYup Charles, it's getting easier.
DeleteThese kids today!Great title and caps line here, too, along with the sarcastic commentary on the decline and fall of a logical upbringing. I was raised by Dr Spock and the 'spare the rod' philosophy, myself, and it left me sadly burdened with self-reliance, manners and a conscience. Loved this, and laughed with it, albeit a bit ruefully. Thanks for playing, Mark, and for kicking ass with us this weekend.
ReplyDeleteJoy I was raised with working parents and nuns, a lot of ruler whacking crazed nuns. I did develop a propensity for frustrating them more than their sexless life already had them.
DeleteI have all those things too, manners, self reliance, conscience but peopel who do not have those attributes often mistake them...
It's all about back to the basics, meowpoppa ... and "lil" peeps and "middle size" peeps and "all grown up" peeps don't understand at all anymore/ or never had the privilege to understand ... by basics I mean: Soil and Water in order to grow food ... "Let's make America great again, eh?" ... Ya ... meouw ... Will love you forever, friend. Always, cat.
ReplyDeleteMeowmomma, back to the basics now means urban farms, writing code and making paper money to pay for the things 99% of them folks can't do for themselves.
DeleteLove (and sense) comes in a lot of shapes--and this sensible love seems to have a beard. The idea of a child being able to hold an iPad but not wanting (or not knowing how) to hold a spoon is scary. I suspect I would be a bringer of tears, too.
ReplyDeleteLove the tone of this story, the truth (and humor) in it.
Thank you Magalay--it is a test of wills but I am not easily tested. He's getting better despite his parents.
DeleteBravo to you, Mark, for keeping your grandson awake and alert to some reality around him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean, that's a good way to say it.
DeleteWonderful vignettes of the inescapable clash of cultures...Ahh, the Stooges! How would we have learned any of the really important lessons without them! A very entertaining visit to your blog.
ReplyDeleteSteve K.
Thank you Steve--The Howard Brothers and Curly knew how to navigate life.
DeleteThank goodness for good 'ole fashioned learning:) I'm glad your grandson is able. Some developmentally disabled actually DO have to use iPads to make their requests known. But I know what you mean about the overuse of electronics by the vast majority.
ReplyDeleteAngie--yes I understand that some kids need an electronic device to communicate with but not this one. He has other interests but it is work to get him to engage with actual toys and coloring. He has started a new day care run by a local university so he is getting better at not having to have that thing with him 24/7.
DeleteShow him the joys of playing outside and using his imagination. Show him a squirrel too.
ReplyDeleteWe get him outside without the iPad Calvin and he even forgets it. He's only 3 but these are the cire years as far as I know. he needs to play.
Delete...and we have plenty of tree rats running around here.
I'm positive you could find some Three Stooges reruns on that iPad of his, Mark, because my son has watched them! And giggled uproariously. (I still don't get it.)
ReplyDeleteI think kids (and parents) nowadays are terrified of boredom. We cannot handle being alone with our own thoughts. I hope this generation doesn't forget how to daydream. And I hope you find some reasons to say "yes."
What scares me most is that children no longer have an imagination of their own, are being forced into reality without being allowed to be be child first, they are forgetting what it is to daydream, how play with things that don't require power, batteries or have sound, I salute you, teach 'em kids the things of old, there is value in them.
ReplyDelete