Where Have The Parents Gone?

I wish I could tell you that this rant was spurred on by some child getting left behind as their parents drove off into the sunset, but it's nothing nearly as exciting as that.  The reality is that during my time observing throughout the semester, I've noticed an interesting trend, and now I've decided to rant about it.  That trend being the absence of parents or the lack of parenting all together.  Now, I want to start this off by saying that I'm not a parent, and I am no way telling anyone how to raise their children, this rant is specifically from a 'through the window' perspective and from the perspective of someone who has babysat, spent time with kids, and has been a kid.  But back to the subject at hand, I've noticed a trend that parents seem to be letting their kids wander to the golden arches on their own, or paying no attention to them if they're with them.


Letting your kids venture to the golden arches on their own or with friends is by far the lesser of the two topics here.  As a kid I was given quite a long leash and plenty of freedom to explore, but I knew darn well if I did something wrong or that my parents wouldn't approve of, somehow they'd find out and I'd hear about it.  Unlike the young gentleman and his friends out my window right now currently honking an air horn and attempting to dance in front of the windows at McDonald's well into the night hours.  Maybe this is me coming from a different culture or being biased, but I'd never have pulled that as a kid. Not only out of respect for the people around me, but also out of fear of my parents! Do you guys think I'm being too judgemental on this one?

This second trend is the one that really hurts me.  I've noticed way too many parents acting like Ronald is their babysitter.  The general routine is ordering while the kid either hangs all over them or runs about the restaurant like the chaotic little tornado that kids tend to be (no judgement there, I know how much of a pain kids are).  But what gets me is once that food arrives and they sit down, the parents seem almost entirely tuned out from their kids.  Usually absorbed into their electronic device, talking to someone else, or not sitting with the child at all.  What happened to socializing with your kid? What happened to unplugging? Or talking with them? Or even just spending time so that they know they're valued.  I know when I was a kid, even when my parents were busy they made sure to ask me what I did in school today or how my day went, and I think a little effort goes a long way in this area.

Next time you're with a child, whether it's babysitting, at a family gathering, or if you've got kids of your own.  Take a second to unplug, observe, talk, or even get on their mental level and have some fun.  You're never too old to be a kid again.