Should someone with a 2 yr old and an infant be on the computer all the time?

Question

I know a few people on here who have small children and are constantly on here. How does someone with small children find the time to do this?

There are a couple in particular that I know have really young children and I know they are on here all the time because from morning until night there are constantly new posts and when you look in their profile it's never been more than an hour between their posts except over night when they are sleeping. This is just one example, I see it a lot but do you think a parent who spends that much time on the computer is being neglectful to their kids? Shouldn't they be feeding their infant and spending time bonding and playing? Toddlers also need a lot of supervision which would have to be lacking unless these people sit their kids in front of the TV all day.

My kids are all older now but when they were younger I only went on the computer when they were sleeping or DH was home caring for them. I just think it's funny that someone with young children they should be watching, is instead on here dishing out parenting advice to people all day long LOL I can see once in a while but geez take a break and spend some time with the kids. Don't you think?

Answer 1

Why do you care so much?  This is the last ditch insult "get off the computer and care for your kids" it just sounds so childish.  Lots of women with small children are probably "wearing" their children, or have laptops and can be snuggling and playing anyway.  You like your life, they like theirs.

Or maybe they are fake parents.  Lot of trolls out here.

Answer 2

Well I'm at work and it gets pretty boring here.

Also, it could be that they are quickly posting a question, then logging off.  The kids can be watching a movie, taking a nap, playing by themselves.  With a 2 year old and an infant, the naps can be long and multiple naps sometimes too.

Then they log back on read the answers, post another question, step away from the computer, etc.  You don't know exactly how long they are on the internet.

Answer 3

You're not talking about me, are you?

*hiding under a chair*

Answer 4

No lifes ...

Answer 5

You get a star from me on that one. I wonder about that sometimes, too, especially when those people try to sound like they are good parents in their replies.

And for everyone who says it's none of our business (which are probably those who do that themselves or worse), well, it is our business because it is us who will have to deal with their children when they get out into the world. So how they raise or don't raise their kids affects all of us eventually.

Answer 6

I have wondered this myself about some of the users.  I generally am on during naps, after the kids are in bed, or when my hubby is home on the weekend.  If I am on when they are awake, they are occupied in the same room as me. (No, I do not have a TV in the same room as my computer!)  But yes, I have noticed plenty who are on here ALL day, you can see it when you look at their profiles, all the answers they are doing.  I agree that some parents are excessive addicts of Answers.....  :)

Answer 7

Yeah I see your point.  It's the same thing as if a parent is scathing the TV and taking care of the kids.  Every one does this now.  Because of technology we can't just do one thing anymore.  Anyways not to be mean but because of people like you is the reason why I left the city.  Mind your own!

Answer 8

I'm with Johnny's Mommy on this.

My Y/A obsession is a direct result of being a working mom away from my son during the day. When I'm home I don't think about Y/A unless he is asleep, my house is clean, my husband is otherwise occupied and I am bored (and how often does boredom happen to a working mom?).

Answer 9

why do you care it's none of our business. You remind me of my judgmental friend Vonnie

Answer 10

I have a 14 month old and of I come on here for more than a few minutes he is at my feet and wants my attention. I could never just ignore him to chat on the internet. I guess some ppl can, though. I only really can come on when he's napping or in bed for the night. (He's napping right now). I don't know how ppl can be on here all day with small kids.  

Answer 11

Shouldn't be on ANY of the time when their kids are up.

As you said at the end, only when they are sleeping or husband is giving you a greak.

Answer 12

Who knows. If their computer is in the living room where they're hanging out with the kids it only takes a few seconds to type a question, you know? So they could be checking in throughout the day, not just sitting on their butts in front of the computer nonstop. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt because we really don't know what goes on in their homes. IF someone was on the computer nonstop without a break then that would be excessive. When my son was 2 there would be times when I'd let him play with his blocks while I sat on the floor next to him reading a book or something. Not all day of course, but for a little while. It helped him learn to entertain himself- now he's an independent 5 year old who doesn't follow me around the house complaining that he's bored and wanting me to play with him when I've got laundry to do, etc. So it's not a bad thing to not focus EVERY second around the kids when they're awake. Everything in moderation though... If someone is ignoring their kids needs to play online then I think it's a problem. But I don't think we can necessarily assume that just because it seems like they're on here a lot. =]

Answer 13

When I had a baby and toddler, I was a stay-at-home Mom who also ran a small business from the house.  I answered phones, dispatched service calls, invoiced, entered bills, yadda yadda yadda.  I was the only office worker for the company and when I look back I wonder, how did I do it all?  I don't know, but I do recall feeling super guilty sometimes that I was busy "working" and coming up with ways to get my kids occupied.  The only thing that made me feel remotely better about it all was that we were avoiding day care, which was something I did not want my kids to experience.

So these Moms are probably giving their kids attention.  You can feed a kid, play with a kid for 30 minutes or 45 minutes at a time, and then they might occupy themselves for 30 minutes or 45 minutes.  If I managed to do what I did, then they can probably manage what they do without totally neglecting their kids! LOL

Answer 14

If you can have 2 kids that age and be online a lot, you have remarkable kids or remarkable child-caring skills.  I couldn't.  My daughter's 5 years old and I just got some free time!

I think the problem is that oftentimes it's the militant breastfeeding, no CIO, BLW, anti-consumerist, anti-TV, mothers that are all too happy to judge everyone else's inadequacies as parents.  By being so judge mental, they leave themselves open to criticism.  

Answer 15

I know people who that two...personally I have a 2 year old only reason I can be on sometime during the day is because am at work lol but when I get  home is my daughters time then when she goes to sleep its me time...I dont get how they do it, but to each their own.

Answer 16

I agree. If you have the means to be at home all day, then they should be spending it with the kids and stuff..

are you sure they aren't at work, though and are posting from there?

Answer 17

Everyone takes care of their children different, nice to hear your opinion though.

Answer 18

i have a 4 month old and dont work. so i check in during the day to fill in time and i dont neglect my child. i have a black jack so i can check the internet on my cell. so i dont think a lot of parents are neglecting theyr children. you shouldnt worry about that.

Answer 19

i agree with you

i dont' think you can't go on the computer when you have young children, but spend most of your time bonding with them and taking care of them. that should be one's number one priorty.  

Answer 20

well maybe you can answer that question yourself your kids still need you a lot with 13, 11 and 8

Answer 21

Your question is outstanding. It makes me look at myself too. Heck I hope my experience has helped a soul of two on the message boards. I think it has but at what price?

I think the computer has created a false reality. People think that some dude across the country is their friend or even across the state. It isn't real. It's this virtual world that people step into and can explore by being completely anonymous. Is it really a good thing? A little is but I think it can easily become an endpoint at that is not good.  

Answer 22

No offense, but maybe you should spend less time spying on people and more time worrying about yourself.  Or better yet, take your concerns to those people.  I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this question. I'm assuming you know these people people fairly intimately or else you wouldn't be assuming to know what they do or how they live, right?  I mean, forming an opinion on someone, merely from observing that they are online quite often would be dash. Certainly, if you didn't know this or these people intimately, the most righteous assumption would be that this person either works on the computer, has a nanny or another person who contributes care to the children. I mean, if i only knew someone through typed words on a messenger or a disembodied voice on the phone i would give them the benefit of the doubt. Because, if this is the extent of our relationship, i would recognize that i don't know this person enough to judge them on something so important.  Is neglecting children wrong?  Maybe, it is all dependent on one's morals and perspective.  

Answer 23

how do u find the time with two kids, unless u got like a teenage child helping u, but i mean how does a parent do that, i could understand if the children are asleep and  u find time.

but over all i dont think a parent should be on the computer ALL the time

Answer 24

I think they should be watching their kids and making sure little Tommy dosent get into the medicine cabinet.  

Answer 25

as long as the kids are loved and well taken care of it dosent matter.  

Answer 26

Sad aint it  

Answer 27

I'm on YA while I'm at work.  Once I get my son and go home, I stay off, except for maybe a peek or two over the weekend while he's napping.  If he's awake, I'm not online.  :)

Answer 28

are you jealous that you cant multitask like them?

Answer 29

They don't really care about their children

Answer 30

No they shouldn't be thats really sad actually.

Answer 31

if you have young kids they are not entertained by them selfs if they are only child if not like if they have bros and sis then they play together but they are still small they need to be whatched so keep an eye on your kids if they are small dont always go on the computer

if they are older only once in a wile they need to be checked on and they might be on the computer them selfes too so that is the time to go on when you have kids or when they are at school