If you're one of those "there's always a silver lining" people, this story's for you.
The author of a new parenting book says the credit crunch is a GOOD thing for families.
Idle Parent author Tom Hodgkinson told the Daily Telegraph that as two hard-working parents has become the norm, family playtime has gone out the window - and with it, creativity. With the credit crunch, parents losing jobs and parents cutting back on the "extras," Hodgkinson said they have a chance to re-examine their lives and become creative again.
"If you can reduce your outgoings, you
reduce your dependence on your wages, you don't need to work so hard. And
you start to become creative. It happened in my own life – we had our own
economic collapse at home a few years ago, and it was actually quite joyful
and fun. We spent more time at home and less time working," Hodgkinson told the Telegraph.
Bless his socialist heart, I'd like to agree with him. After all, playtime IS good for kids. So is downtime. And we all know money can't buy happiness.
But economic collapse = joyful and fun? Er, no. Just no.
Spending more time at home with the kids when there is money to pay the mortgage can be quite joyful. Spending more time at home with the kids because you've lost your job and you have no idea whether you'll be able to buy milk and bread this week is not fun. It's stressful. It's disheartening. It's bad for families.
I agree parents need to step back and prioritize essentials versus wants - even in good economic times. The idea that kids need seventeen different Elmo dolls is ludicrous. That's where families should take a good, long and hard look at creativity and what playtime means for their family.
The trouble with Hodgkinson's statements is that they criticize parents not so much for material overload but for working. For getting out of the house. For taking a step forward. He's taking the argument lobbed at working mothers for years and throwing it at both parents. You work, so therefore you neglect your children's needs.
I'm sorry, maybe some families are enjoying their forced days off because it gives them more time to dream up architectural plans for their cardboard dwellings with the kids. I'm just glad to have a job.
Image: Telegraph
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