Video Killed the Parenting Star

I think technology has made parenting a lot harder. Says the non-parent. You don’t have to go to PTA meetings to know the internet is a doozie. However, There’s a another piece of technology that’s a bit more stealth in how it undermines parenting.

I was riding on the London Undergound. I shared a car with a couple with two kids, one in a stroller and a very active toddler. Now, I’ve shared with you my train antics as a lad. How I refused to hold on to the pole to demonstrate my supreme super hero balance.

My mom suffered my poppycock with amazing grace and patience. Though, I do think my mom would have drawn the line at me going vertical. The young boy hoisted himself all the way up a pole. I was equally amazed by his upper body strength as I was his mom and dad’s compliance. The boy then, after several failed attempts, swung himself from the vertical pole to the horizontal one above his parents’ heads. I’m not sure I could do that now! So the lad is definitely showing talent for gymnastics. I’m thinking silver on the parallel bar in 2020.

On the boy’s penultimate attempt I realized that his parents were videotaping his efforts. They were torn between the precociousness of the moment and their duties as the custodians of ushering into society a well-rounded, courteous person. They grow up so fast and those moments may never happen again. At least that’s what they can tell the judge at his sentencing twenty years from now. I kid, i kid. I would’ve seriously been between the same rock and hard place. Especially given the boys climbing proficiency. Catch you teach and capture?

FATHER: Ok son, we need to get this in one take... then go get a switch from the yard for your beating.

Do You Understand the Words Coming Out of My Mouth

Depending on the situation, language can be quite predictable. For instance, you could learn 20 words in Russian that have to deal with going to the butcher and as far as your Russian butcher is concerned, you speak Russian. The train would only go off the track if one of you didn't stick to the script.

(in Russian)
YOU: Hello, a pound of corned beef please and half a pound of potato salad.
BUTCHER: Ok, Anything else?
YOU: And a pound of smoked turkey cut very thin.
BUTCHER: Here you go. Pay at the front.
YOU: Thank you very much.
BUTCHER: You're welcome. Have you heard the news coming out of the Kremlin? Where does Putin get the gall.

And next would be the sound of the train derailing. And now your butcher knows you don't speak Russian and/or don't watch RT.* By the way in the above sketch YOU spoke exactly 20 distinct words.

So basically in certain scenarios, you can communicate without using the same language. I say all that to say I had a nice exchange with a Chinese cab driver. We laughed and agreed without understanding a word of what the other was saying. See, he was following another cab and I was sitting in the front with him. The cab we were following must have confused following for being chased. He drove like a bat on work release from hell. His driving was reckless in and of itself. The fact that he drove that way while being followed was unconscionable.

Finally his antics simultaneously got under my and my driver's skin. We literally both put a hand out in disbelief and both said "we're following this guy, why is he driving like a jackass." And then we both laughed. (I'm paraphrasing his part of course as it was in Chinese) Other than the language, our reaction and level of incredulousness was exactly the same. We exchanged a set of thoughts and bonded without digesting each other's actual words. And that is how you have a conversation with someone you don't share a language with.