Pop Quiz: Good Parenting

Comments

1. B, because there’ll be many, many times to play with the kids (perhaps even including tomorrow), and he’s already turned down the friend time twice already… unless next week is actually for certain, in which case A is fine.

   Posted by Chris Azure on Mar. 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM [#]

2. A very sensible answer. But I was thinking more along the lines of C), with extra credit given for, “Daddy’s going to go tie one on! Don’t wait up!”

   Posted by Evan on Mar. 10, 2009 at 10:54 PM [#]

3. D) leave the family behind in Denver, so they don’t know/care when you get beers with Evan

   Posted by Russ on Mar. 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM [#]

4. What happens in Sunnyvale stays in Sunnyvale.

   Posted by Evan on Mar. 11, 2009 at 11:44 AM [#]

5. I felt like I ‘should’ say A, and perhaps I ‘could’ say B. But what I really want to say is C, on the theory that one can never begin too early teaching kids that the world does not revolve around them, that sound relationships are not built on sacrifice and guilt, and that having a life is important to everyone’s general tone.

   But C only works if you actually like your kids, do spend a lot of time with them, and give them no reason to doubt that they’re among the top priorities in your life. And since some part of that is pretty generally not true, I had some trouble just popping for C.

   Posted by Carl on Mar. 11, 2009 at 2:19 PM [#]

6. Oh, and then not to be a complete downer, but C can’t be an excuse to turn wife/hubby into your personal on-staff babysitter whenever you feel like it. Which also happens way too much to just pop for C.

   All in all, my answer is:

   E.) Don’t have kids, get your tubes tied, enjoy sex more and go have beers whenever you want.

   Posted by Carl on Mar. 11, 2009 at 2:28 PM [#]

7. | But what I really want to say is C, on the theory that one can never begin too early teaching kids that the world does not revolve around them, that sound relationships are not built on sacrifice and guilt, and that having a life is important to everyone’s general tone.

   For some strange reason that reminds me of Calvin’s dad:

   http://www.s-anand.net/blog/calvin-and-hobbes-dad-explains-science/

   Calvin asks his dad a question about how the world works, Calvin’s dad responds with BS, Calvin asks a perfectly reasonable follow-up question, Calvin’s dad increases the BS level, rinse, repeat. If you’re going to teach your kids anything useful early on, it should be that Adults Lie. A lot.

   Posted by Evan on Mar. 11, 2009 at 5:36 PM [#]

8. Clearly, D - bring the kids to the bar.

   Posted by Dave Thompson on Mar. 12, 2009 at 4:06 PM [#]

9. And with that, Dave cuts the Gordian Knot! Parent of the Year!

   Posted by Evan on Mar. 12, 2009 at 6:38 PM [#]

10. Hi Evan,

    I have never been here before, don’t live in California, but strangely your site came up as a site I visited before through Alexa.com. Or I should say…according to Alexa.com

    HMMMM, so I thought I would check out what site I visited in my sleep. I defitely got a good chuckle from your “About” section and thought I would make a comment somewhere.

    As for your poll here. I have to vote for “C” and that is because I could say that out loud in my living room and much worse and I will offend no one. I don’t have kids or a husband…hehehe. Go have a beer, you probably deserve it!

    Posted by Teresa on Mar. 14, 2009 at 5:47 PM [#]

11. As a software professional and mother of a young child…

    Carl is right about option C really being more about the way said father treats his wife. If the wife is a stay-at-home mom, then she probably needs some non-kid time at the end of the day. If she works outside the house, then she probably had plans to do something with her evening while her husband is playing with the kids.

    Option A is OK sometimes, option B is OK sometimes, as long as there is moderation.

    How about option D: go for a drink after the kids are down for night. It has the added benefit of letting everyone have dinner at home first instead of eating too many hot wings at the bar.

    Posted by Rachel on Mar. 18, 2009 at 6:47 AM [#]

12. Well, considering the two previous rainchecks, I’d go with B, C, A in that order.

    Posted by Sam on Mar. 19, 2009 at 2:02 PM [#]