I am not one to get very defensive about my mothering choices but something recently struck a chord with me and I thought I would share. Watching the daily evening news, I was dutifully informed by the news reader that the Duchess of Cambridge had successfully raised her children without any exposure to electronic media and it was insinuated that, this was the best way for children to be raised. I understand that in this modern age, it is a mean feat to raise 2 kids under 4 without any electronic media exposure and that is what was probably the whole point of the news clip but somehow made me feel judged as a mother. When you work full-time in a 2-income home, have your child in childcare 4 days a week because a live-in nanny is not an option, you come home to juggle making dinner, bath time, doing laundry and everything that needs to be done to have some sense of peace and order in the home, sometimes giving the toddler something to distract them is the only way to get things done.
Having shared in reading more than 50books in his young life, my son is well acquainted with the pages of a book and he has a lot of toys and a few other things that could distract him but sometimes you use what you know will work. I am one to admit, the electronic tablet has been a lifesaver in my home and sometimes allows me to use the bathroom in peace without having a toddler banging on the door or sticking their fingers under the bathroom door. I am also one to admit that there should be limits as to how long kids should be on electronic media and ideally the guidelines say there should be any electronic media use in kids under 2 but if that is the only way the kid can eat enough to sleep all night and not wake up hungry at 3am, then I think you can make a call as to what works for your family.
I will jump off the soapbox now… have a great day…
Afro Mummy Doc 
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