Spending time with children v technology

[citcatgirl45]

My 13 yr old DD is not like a normal teenager glued to her phone or TV. She has never really been a TV watcher. She always likes to be busy I am similar and am not good at doing nothing. She enjoys spending time with her dad as it doesn't happen often because he is always busy doing his own thing. This is gardening car valeting and housework. Our house is always pristine as he spends so long making sure everything is perfect but he will not spend any time with the kids - not necessary as they have me(their mum) and a TV!!!!
He honestly thinks the whole house will fall apart if the windows aren't cleaned for the 3rd time this week!!!Anyway my DD has told me she is bored of me it is always me that she spends time with. I do all my jobs (paperwork, tv catch up, cooking dinner laundry) when kids are busy so that when they are free I can do stuff with them. He thinks this is spoiling them as I literally do something with them all the time and thy expect the same from him. I thought spoiling them was giving them lots of imaterial things not your time. He thinks they have become too reliant on me for entertainment and he has just ordered an xbox to see if that will keep them happy- they hate technology - they like people and being out and about. In this day and age this is a good thing surely???? I am being made to feel I am making them into bad people!!

I think it depends, not being glued to tech is a good thing but equally needing constant activities to be entertained is not so good. It doesn't need to be an xbox but your DH might have a point that they could do with being encouraged to be comfortable chilling out.

Do your kids take themselves off to do any solo activities eg drawing, reading, crafting, park with friends, or are they always looking for a parent to interact with? So long as they're capable of entertaining themselves on their own and not looking for you to provide entertainment and activities then I think you've got a good balance (and are very lucky that they're somewhat 'tech averse'!)
It's sad that their dad doesn't want to give them his time, but similarly they could still enjoy his company by being alongside him while he potters in the garden etc. Some of my fondest memories of my own dad are of just hanging around with him while he did the gardening or painted the shed, because even though I wasn't participating much (probably slowing him down when I was!) I enjoyed his company and the freedom to chat.