What Is Wrong With This Picture?

Reading the morning paper always provides a little something in the cultural realm. This morning was no exception. I read that there is now an app for parents who are bored with reading the beloved book, Good Night Moon, to their children at bedtime. Just turn it on, it "reads the story" to the child -  and the parent can leave the room to engage with more important things, things that are not boring.

Bored? Bored with the nightly ritual of ending a child's day with a story? The comfort of your child tucked safely into bed and snuggled down with Mom or Dad's full attention? What can be more important?

Bedtime stories were an important part of our children's growing up years - even after they learned to read the squiggles on the pages themselves. Their Dad was the story-reader in our family. And this time together with a child tucked under each arm was an loving act. How can that be boring?

And I remember my father reading to me when I was small. Honey the Bear was my favorite. And Honey on a Raft became an important theme in my life. Honey riding a raft through a flood, standing on his hind-legs "to see what he could see." Even in a disaster, Honey, who had been well-cared for by his loving keeper, had his eyes wide open to feed his curiosity.

When I was an adult, I wanted a copy of my favorite book - the original having been tossed or given away a long time ago. The best I could with eBay was another Honey book, another story about Honey by the same author. But it did have pictures of Honey, my hero, engaged in another adventure in his small bear's life. My generation's Good Night Moon - being loved and therefore "safe" even when the world was a scary place.

Boredom with parenting and having an app comfort your child with your love? Now tell me, what is wrong with this picture?