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This article suggests that just because this generation of parents might have more job flexibility and ability to spend more time at home with the kids does not mean that it's quality family time:
Studies that show parents who spend more time than ever with their kids today don't necessarily capture what's happening between them, says sociologist Barbara Schneider of Michigan State University in East Lansing. "If you're not connecting with Mom and Dad — just because you're in the house with them — what difference does it make?"
The author talks about the concept of shared attention -- between the kids and the computer or phone or the Blackberry -- that is common when parents bring work home, which research suggests is the norm for nearly half of American workers.
1 comment so far...
Before having a BB people would call me at home because I wouldn't have gotten the message or to be sure I check my email that night and it became a "since i have you on the phone..." situation.
Now they know I'll check at night, and call only if it really, truly is urgent. I can count on one hand the # of times I've had to work during our family time in the past year. So it can be wonderful, depending on how it is used.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mich on 26th April 2010