Down with portable DVD players

[disneynewman]

an ignore list...great idea, I think I need to start one

 

[DVCsince02]

In the interest of keeping things civil, OP was just voicing a frustration. Although I diagree with his post, I can appreciate that we are all different and want only the best for our families.

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's have a portable DVD player to share, gameboys and Ipods, as long as they are not bothering anyone else and using headphones I dont' see how it is anyone elses business/problem.

If you encountered us in the airport (we fly ALOT and its not usually a vacation) you may see them watching a movie, listening to music or playing a video game. This has nothing to do with "family time" its just the choice they made at that particular moment. A half hour later you may see us playing hangman or cards or just chatting. Either way its just a small glimps at our family. You would have no way of knowing how much TV my kids watch, that they are always in the middle of at least one book and that we play board games and card games together almost daily. We also play video games together, my dd's always win though especially at Jeopardy

While I would certainly not let my kids watch a DVD while grocery shopping we have no way of knowing why that child was on that day. Perhaps it was just one of those "whatever works" days and Mom had to get the shopping done.

Yes, we do bring our DVD on even a Disney vacation. When my kids were younger they sometimes needed downtime after a day of Disney over stimulation. There were evenings when a nice bath and watching a movie on the bed in the evening was just what they needed. Oh and DH and I got to sit on the balcony for some adult conversation and relaxation oursleves, after all it is our vacation too

One thing I have learned from parenting over the past 14 years is never say never and never assume.

TJ

 

[surfergirl602]

I don't get personal days...everyday is with my family and I love taking care of them...a little time in the car seems okay.

I'm a mom of three girls ages 7, 5, and 1. What's a "personal day?" never heard of it. having a dvd player in the car for the long trips seems worthwhile. For two hours they aren't fighting, bickering, tattling, screaming, crying, etc. They like the entertainment as they really don't get to watch tv any other time. We have a 40 drive from school and back (we are military and live off post) so by the time we get home after extracurricular activities, dinner, baths, pajamas, its off to bed.

I can see where there might be excessiveness, but when used appropriately, its a good thing. We won't be bringing it on the plane as we're flying jetblue and they have tvs, and we're not bringing it on vacation as the room already has a tv AND the disney channel.

 

[DVCsince02]

Oh and DH and I got to sit on the balcony for some adult conversation and relaxation oursleves, after all it is our vacation too

One thing I have learned from parenting over the past 14 years is never say never and never assume.

TJ

Hey TJ - I'm from DE too!

 

[nessz79]

Although no flames were meant by the OP, I could see the thread turning into something. People are naturally going to get their feelings hurt when their parenting is called into question. I don't think there's any way to prevent that.

That being said, we only use our portable DVD player in the car on long trips. We may watch 1 movie during a 4 hour drive. We may watch 2-3 on an 18 hour drive. To be honest, when the kids have had enough of movies, they start doing other things and will ignore the movies. Little children are pretty self-regulating...at least mine have been. They can only watch so much tv and then the need to change focus. So I've never had a problem with them not having enough conversation and stimulation from us or their surroundings.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

While I would certainly not let my kids watch a DVD while grocery shopping we have no way of knowing why that child was on that day. Perhaps it was just one of those "whatever works" days and Mom had to get the shopping done.

I'd like to share a story my aunt tells when some holier than thou parent likes to judge.

My aunt was in a supermarket a long time ago, she had my two cousins in tow, It was early evening. they were 2 and 4 at the time. The 2 year old was very cranky and they were in the checkout. He was having a meltdown for some candy. My aunt was trying to hold it together, trying to find the $5 dollars to pay for her groceries (milk & bread) needed for the next day. After multiple attempts to get him to stop crying..she finally bought the candy. ...and a "mother" in line decided to make a comment.. "thats just going to make it worse, I can't believe your giving in to him"..or something like that.

So my Aunt decided to educate her. She had just come from burying her husband who died from a tough battle with lukemia. She needed to stop at the store because she had no milk for their breakfast in the morning..The two kids were really not sure what it meant their father was never coming back...and she had no idea what she was going to do to try to raise them herself. Needless to say she had a lot on her mind.


So just try to think of that..when you catch yourself wanting to be "helpful"

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Perhaps I should have left out the first line of my post....since no one read it anyway.

 

[disneynewman]

Here is a good quote to live by in situations like these:

"Be nicer than is necessary to everyone you meet, for everyone is fighting their own personal battles"

 

[pyrxtc]

I won't be bringing them on my car trip but I do bring them on the plane. There is not much to see outside the airplane window and much too split up to talk to each other. Great for killing time in the airport, although my kids don't seem to use them much.

 

[iheartdisney]

My opinion on portable DVD players...
I would rather you let your kids watch a movie in the car than be trying to turn around and break up a fight that has errupted out of boredom while driving!
Plug that movie in if it means you can keep your attention on the road where it need to be

I'm a mom of three girls ages 7, 5, and 1. What's a "personal day?" never heard of it.

I agree! Mine are 5, 4, and 2, so my first personal day will be in 3 years when my baby starts school. My Dh is in a very technical school right now (new military specialty) and usually doing homework until 7 on an early night, so I usually don't get the luxury of showering with the door closed. I there is no such thing as a "personal day" in my world! You are very lucky to have such a thing!
So if I need some personal TIME in the car (by myself, driving 3 kids 13+ hours) that is my business.

And IMHO, any post that starts with

Let me first say that this post if not DIRECTED at anyone...

translates to "that stroller issue has died down...how else can I ruffle some feathers?"

 

[disneynewman]

Perhaps I should have left out the first line of my post....since no one read it anyway.

While you did write that this was not 'directed at anyone' The rest of your remarks came off as directed towards everyone who uses them. You didn't say they are 'overused in ceratin stituations' you just said "They only serve as a way to "shut the kids up", and the undermine the family time that you get to spend together"

 

[surfergirl602]

I'd like to share a story my aunt tells when some holier than thou parent likes to judge.

My aunt was in a supermarket a long time ago, she had my two cousins in tow, It was early evening. they were 2 and 4 at the time. The 2 year old was very cranky and they were in the checkout. He was having a meltdown for some candy. My aunt was trying to hold it together, trying to find the $5 dollars to pay for her groceries (milk & bread) needed for the next day. After multiple attempts to get him to stop crying..she finally bought the candy. ...and a "mother" in line decided to make a comment.. "thats just going to make it worse, I can't believe your giving in to him"..or something like that.

So my Aunt decided to educate her. She had just come from burying her husband who died from a tough battle with lukemia. She needed to stop at the store because she had no milk for their breakfast in the morning..The two kids were really not sure what it meant their father was never coming back...and she had no idea what she was going to do to try to raise them herself. Needless to say she had a lot on her mind.


So just try to think of that..when you catch yourself wanting to be "helpful"

 

[debster812]

Perhaps I should have left out the first line of my post....since no one read it anyway.

Nope, I read it, I fully comprehended it, and decided to reply anyway.

Just as you were free to post your opinion, we are all free to post ours. If you were hoping to get nothing but 100% agreement, I suspect you were mistaken.

And, let me ask you, what would you suggest we do to keep a 9 year old, and a 12 year old (we had a spare kid last year) entertained in an airport for OVER 8 hours. All homework had been done. They had each finished the book they had in their carry on. We played about 157 games of Uno. We played Hangman for about an hour. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the airport. We walked every inch of the terminal. (four times). We visted every restroom in the terminal.

Seriously, what else would you have had us do, to keep spending our 'quality family time' during an ice storm at Logan Airport?

 

[disneynewman]

And IMHO, any post that starts with
translates to "that stroller issue has died down...how else can I ruffle some feathers?"[/QUOTE]


so true!

 

[DVCsince02]

Perhaps I should have left out the first line of my post....since no one read it anyway.

Now you are just being defensive when others have posted they appreciate our differences. Not evey post was negative, so why would you post something generally negative to the whole group? If you didn't want opinions or responses, you shouldn't have posted, which is just an invitation for them.

 

[Julie*]

We drive from Vermont to WDW and certainly use a portable DVD player in our car for part of the trip. Our kids sometimes watch tv in the condo too at night while we're on vacation. They certainly watch their fair share at home too.

I have to say though that I find myself frustrated by the amount of times I have seen portable DVD players, Nintendos, game boys etc used by children out in public. I certainly try not to pass judgement b/c I don't know the whole story but it does seem weird to me to see so much "screen time" while at restaurants, the mall etc.

 

[LAH LAH]

Let me first say that this post if not DIRECTED at anyone. I'm not writing it based on any *particular* thread on the subject (though I have seen many), but rather was triggered by some things I saw this weekend.

What I want to say is. I think Portable DVD players and in-car DVD players are such a horrible creation.

They only serve as a way to "shut the kids up", and the undermine the family time that you get to spend together. Mostly they're used in cars, which these days of double-income families, is one of the precious little time that parents get to spend with their kids.

When I was young, my mother was a house-wife, and she spend all day with us ...every day. She never needed to sit us in front of a movie for an hour and half....and we spent our time in the car TALKING. What wonderful memories (even the memories where i was getting in trouble). There's no replacement for that!

I've read about people bringing these devices on their disney trip to use on the airplanes or in the hotel room, and I just dont understand it AT ALL. It's vacation, and its such a great opportunity to spend "down time" with kids....it should be taken advantage of.

Perhaps I should have left out the first line of my post....since no one read it anyway.

Right...because in the next two paragraphs you paint the nicest possible picture of those who decide to live differently than you...and your posts are always soooooooooooooo kind and encouraging.

I often wonder if you sit and think of ways to irritate people on these (and possibly other) boards.

I don't need to justify mine and my childrens DVD/DS/MP3 etc. choices to you. The sad thing is...I actually AGREE with you that it can be harmful and take away from quality time...but it is a personal choice...make your own and live with how YOUR choices make YOU feel...not how other peoples choices make you feel.

...officially choosing to ignore...

...for those who want to ignore the OP or any poster: click on his/their name and view public profile...on that page you can choose to ignore them...and it will be like their posts were never there...for you at least.

 

[DevilDuckie]

I won't flame you, but I do have a few questions.

1. Do you have children?
2. Also, do you feel any part of your "family" vacation should involve some down time for you too?

I'm not the OP but I agree with her 100%. Yes I am a mom and my "downtime" on a *family* vacation is when the kiddo is asleep.

 

[DVCsince02]

I'm not the OP but I agree with her 100%. Yes I am a mom and my "downtime" on a *family* vacation is when the kiddo is asleep.

"Kiddo" implies one child. So if you have more than one you can count on fights, etc. in long car rides.