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With all the massive life improvements we have with technology we could be investing so much more into our kids. Jobs could be flexible with short work weeks, a

• paulryanrogers 3y ago
  Having worked remote most of my kids' lives, I'd say there are other challenges. Parents need time away from their kids too, and if every parent in society is working then how are kids supposed to get the adult attention and allow the parents some child-free time? When I was younger kids played with others in the neighborhood, and there was always a homemaker parent in every household. Now every adult has at least a part-time job. Kids still play in the neighborhood, yet weekly instead of daily. More often they are in daycare, school, or staying home.
  • treespace09 3y ago
    I’m thinking about everyone being more involved with kids. Not just parents of young children.
    • toomuchtodo 3y ago
      Lots of folks don’t want kids or to be involved with them too, another important consideration.
      • em-bee 3y ago
        those that do not want to be involved with kids would obviously not choose to participate in such an environment, so they are out of the picture.
        • toomuchtodo 3y ago
          Has to be explicitly said, lots of folks expect a village without asking if the village consented towards the effort (n=1). Managing and openly communicating expectations derisks disappointment and suboptimal outcomes.
      • throwaway22032 3y ago
        Not wanting to be a parent is one thing, but people who don't want to be involved with kids need to work on themselves, that's a deeply antisocial trait - your own existence depended on everyone around you being involved with you to some degree.
        • toomuchtodo 3y ago
          That is an opinion, not a fact. Freedom of association and to be happy can include not interacting with children you choose not to, and optimizing for happiness is important (versus a social contract requiring otherwise). No one will optimize for your own happiness besides you. I have kids, but fully respect people who don’t care for or want to avoid time and interaction with kids. I respect their boundaries, that is what I advocate for here. I’ve had over a decade of therapy, so I’m fairly confident in my position on the topic.
          • em-bee 3y ago
            it is one thing to ask someone who doesn't want to deal with kids for help taking care of them, but quite another to expect them to tolerate kids and behave in a manner that gives the kids space they need. (like not smoking near kids, etc) in a city i can't choose my neighbors, but some neighbors don't like kids and will complain if they are to noisy because they are playing soccer in the yard, to the point that they force the building management to disallow it, which then takes a lawsuit from the parents to remove that rule because such a rule is in fact illegal since kids playing is natural had has to be tolerated. if someone feels that kids playing infringes their boundaries then they do need an attitude adjustment.
            • toomuchtodo 3y ago
              Agreed. Kids need the space to develop as you mentioned, and it’s somewhat trivial to determine where to live to avoid children using granular census and school availability data if desired.
              • 3y ago
  • em-bee 3y ago
    how are kids supposed to get the adult attention and allow the parents some child-free time not everyone is going to work all the time. obviously someone has to be available for the kids but not all the time either. the point is that life improvements, technology and flexibility makes this more easy.
    • paulryanrogers 3y ago
      Not if the cost is both parents having to work a day job.