Dear Spike:
We went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point today. It was a trip we’ll be sure to take you on many times when you’re old enough.
Since arriving here, your mother and I have been sure to have yearly passes to the Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary. We attend a lot of live sporting events. We like to take long walks and short hikes. And, after the fun we had today, we may add the dino museum to the list of our favorite diversions.
I know that everyone has a different idea of how to raise children — what activities are good for developing minds, what to stay away from, that sort of thing. We’re of the notion that it will be best to expose you to many places where your imagination and curiosity can thrive. That means the zoo, the aviary, the museums and the library. I think you’ll enjoy those places.
The good news, for us, is that we enjoy those things, too. I saw a lot of parents who looked downright bored at the museum today. I feel bad for them and for their kids, because I think children are keenly perceptive of how their parents feel about things.
I figure that’s why so many children spend so much time watching television. Most American adults watch several hours of TV each day, so it shouldn’t surprise us when our children follow suit.
But I’m sorry, my child, we’re a bit different in this family.
Oh, we’ve got a TV. A pretty nice one, at that. But if you try to change the channels, all you’ll see is a blue screen. There’s no antenna. No cable. No satellite dish.
We do have a pretty decent collection of movies, and we’ll let you watch some of those with us. But chances are good that won’t ever see a movie or watch a TV show unaccompanied by your mother or I until you go on your first sleep over at a friend’s house. Same goes for video games.
A lot of your peers might find this lifestyle a bit boring. And they may be right. So in trade, we’ll give you as many opportunities to participate in diverting activities and to visit interesting places as we can possibly afford.
In the end, it will be up to you to decide whether you enjoy our kinds of activities more than those you’ll get to participate in when visiting friends.
I hope you prefer life outside the box to life in front of it. But I'll love you either way.
Love,
dad
We went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point today. It was a trip we’ll be sure to take you on many times when you’re old enough.
Since arriving here, your mother and I have been sure to have yearly passes to the Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary. We attend a lot of live sporting events. We like to take long walks and short hikes. And, after the fun we had today, we may add the dino museum to the list of our favorite diversions.
I know that everyone has a different idea of how to raise children — what activities are good for developing minds, what to stay away from, that sort of thing. We’re of the notion that it will be best to expose you to many places where your imagination and curiosity can thrive. That means the zoo, the aviary, the museums and the library. I think you’ll enjoy those places.
The good news, for us, is that we enjoy those things, too. I saw a lot of parents who looked downright bored at the museum today. I feel bad for them and for their kids, because I think children are keenly perceptive of how their parents feel about things.
I figure that’s why so many children spend so much time watching television. Most American adults watch several hours of TV each day, so it shouldn’t surprise us when our children follow suit.
But I’m sorry, my child, we’re a bit different in this family.
Oh, we’ve got a TV. A pretty nice one, at that. But if you try to change the channels, all you’ll see is a blue screen. There’s no antenna. No cable. No satellite dish.
We do have a pretty decent collection of movies, and we’ll let you watch some of those with us. But chances are good that won’t ever see a movie or watch a TV show unaccompanied by your mother or I until you go on your first sleep over at a friend’s house. Same goes for video games.
A lot of your peers might find this lifestyle a bit boring. And they may be right. So in trade, we’ll give you as many opportunities to participate in diverting activities and to visit interesting places as we can possibly afford.
In the end, it will be up to you to decide whether you enjoy our kinds of activities more than those you’ll get to participate in when visiting friends.
I hope you prefer life outside the box to life in front of it. But I'll love you either way.
Love,
dad
3 comments:
Hurrah for dinos!
Dear Spike,
I wish that I would have been as wise as your parents when your dad, aunt and uncle were little. Thankfully, because we didn't have a lot of money, video games were not an option. By accident, they learned to enjoy make-believe. And oh, what wonderful imaginations they all have, just like you will! Hooray for dinos, indeed!
Love, Grandma L
Great plan. We try to expose Clare to a lot too...around us we have aquariums, historic seaports, historic towns. And we take her to museums, theater, the library and bookstores. Bookstores a LOT.
But beware those kids' videos that will creep into your life. We have dozens of them and I'm trying to weed some out.
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