I adore my children, as I know all you do, I want the best for them of course. I will also, so to speak do absolutely anything for them.
However, I am something of an advocate of what is loosely termed as "lazy parenting" ie. I am there, I am supervising, I am ensuring all is fine and dandy but I just don't feel that I have to have constant activities arranged for my children - either at home or out and about. I want them to get the hang of working things out for themselves as to what they might do next. We are very lucky that we have a good sized garden and as such, they can and do just charge around, roll around, and so on outside. I am very interested in what they are doing, dont get me wrong, and of course help them out with things when they need it, or occasionally I suggest something that they might want to do (if they are really stuck and bored) but I would rather stand back most of the time and let them get on with it.
My BIL and SIL are the total opposite of me. Similar aged children, but at all times at least one, if not both of them are actively DOING STUFF with the children. So, even if the children are just playing lego or colouring they are actively doing it with them. I equate this with "noisy parenting" ie. I MUST be seen to be doing LOTS AND LOTS of really FUN STUFF and being a really ACTIVE and often NOISY PARENT at all times.
The second you walk away they are like "Mum/Dad, I need you here to help me". But they don't really. Obviously, it's nice to be wanted as a parent, but if you can't just say "guys, just go with it, do the bla bla on your own for a few minutes", it's a rod for your own back isn't it?
How do you approach this? Am I a "lazy parent" or just lazy in the true sense of the word.
BTW, DH and I have made a conscious decision to treat our children this way.. it's not just how things turned out!