Lynda Loveland: Surprising stat

When I went to see the Blue Man Group with my husband a few weeks ago, I didn’t expect to learn anything. I just wanted to sit there, relax and enjoy myself. The last thing I wanted to think about was parenting. But I’ll be danged if it didn’t pop up and occupy my brain during the last half of the show. So unfair. I was really trying to concentrate on the pudding like stuff spewing from their chests.

During part of the show, different statistics about communication appeared on a giant iPad thingy. One of them threw me for a loop. It read, “In America, the average parent spends only five minutes a day talking to their child, one on one.” My first thought was, no way. I totally talk to my kids more than that. But than, I REALLY started to think about it.

I don’t see my kids until they get off the bus after school. Than I empty the book bags, do the initial how was your day, did you behave, did you eat your lunch? From there, I start dinner and feed the dogs.

All the while, the kids are asking me, will you play soccer with me, will you play Barbies with me? But I’m always busy making dinner. After dinner, it’s cleanup, homework, a little TV and than bath and bed.

Do I talk with the kids? Yes, but when I break it down, my one on one time is not expansive. I hate to admit it. It SEEMS like I talk to them more. But it’s not really that quality, by ourselves kind of discussion. I gotta say, I’m disappointed in me. I need to be better. Even if the kids don’t offer much, I need to try and pull more out. Geez, you only get one shot! It’s now or never.

I managed to wrap up my thoughts just in time for the Blue Man Group grand finale with the rolls and rolls of toilet paper flying through the air.

I’m gonna be better. Other stuff just doesn’t matter as much.