To think that if people didn't pay their kids so much attention...

[nenevomito]

Children would be more independent and adventurous, and, more to the point, that the evil tortured genius to bland boring average child ratio would benefit greatly.

I mean, come on! How is your child ever going to get to where they can buy their own volcanic island staffed with pliant henchmen if you spend your whole days baking fucking cupcakes with them?

Never. They will grow up, buy a semi, drive a Prius and worry about the food miles generated by their cucumbers.

Seriously, just gnore them for a few hours and do your bit to push them to wards evil greatness.

At the very least bake EVIL cupcakes.

*Dejected Wed 24-Jul-13 18:16:31

I've been ignoring them for years and now they are teenagers they ignore me grin*

The circle of life
I've been ignoring mine since 1989
DS is now 24 and seems that some days pants are all he wears- I often meet him on the landing in just his boxers

I once baked with my daughter. She asked me not to do it again . In fairness, I leave the baking to granny.

After years of benign neglect, my children have developed three main games that they like to play:

1. Gymnastics DD1 is the coach, DD2 is an orphan who is having her first lesson.
2. World War II orphans (usually involving schools in some way) .
3. Dead people.

I do worry about my girls sometimes!

I certainly favour letting them get on with their own stuff.

DS (aged 9) will often build a den in his bedroom, frequently using books to weight a blanket on the top of the chest of drawers, etc. We then find him asleep in said den after lights out, rolled up in another blanket.

DD is 13 and more often than not will be holed up in her room texting friends or reading books. She does come out and help me cook sometimes.