Quality Time...
...is what parenting is about, not quantity of time spent with mummy or daddy. All children have basic needs which parents (allegedly) know how to meet (food, drink, warm clothing etc.) Then comes the complicated bit, giving them quality time, talking to them, giving them time to answer your questions AND time to ask their own and receive proper replies. Reading to them, with them. Baking, Painting, DIY, general mum and dad stuff.

Ask yourself why some children grow up well mannered, caring and responsible, whilst others turn out chavs and slappers? Quality parenting, that's why. Quality time, not stuck in font of the flatscreen watching the Bluray, as you rightly say.

Sadly in my real life I have to deal with children whose parents are less than adequate, and it breaks my heart. It takes a brave person to say "My parents were crap. I'm going to be better than that" Sadly one can only be as good a parent as ones own parents, and when you have a shite example, you're a shite parent cos you don't know any better. Like I say, takes a brave person to admit it.
( The Lone Groover has mal des nuts., Mon 4 Jan 2010, 22:27, Reply)