Kids Get Timeouts – Why Can’t I ?

Last night I was sitting at the ice rink, at yet another hockey practice, trying to get some work done. There was a flock of little kids running around the viewing area while their older siblings were skating on the other rink. One 4 year old was getting a bit too boisterous and his mother sent him to sit in the corner for a “timeout”.

Watching him sit there, all alone, no body allowed to be near him, nobody allowed to talk to him, nothing to do, the only thought that came to mind was …LUCKY KID. 

While kids may think of a “time out” as punishment, I think of it as a reward. What I wouldn’t give for 15 waking minutes of “timeout” (a.k.a. alone with nothing to do time). When do I get a timeout? 

Let’s take a look at my, or your, typical day.

Get up in the morning – pets, son, wife, get ready for work.

Drive to work – even though I am alone in the car, there is no peace and quiet time when driving rush hour.

Office – besides actual work, there is email, telephone, cell phone, meeting, people in and out of the office, you know the drill.

Drive home – see above but in reverse. Actually, driving home in reverse could be fun.

Dinner – family and talk.

Evening – hockey, family, work.

Weekends – family, hockey, work (sometimes), chores, honey-do’s, projects, outings.

Home office – not a chance. It seems that every time I go into the office to get some “me” time, my son comes in to see what I’m doing, or he works/plays on his computer. The dog comes in with a few toys to play or my daughter decides it’s time for me to fix her computer.

Weekend afternoon nap time – yeah…right. There are those times when my daughter is gone, my wife takes the son out shopping, the cat and dog are napping, and I lay down in a peaceful house. Is this my “time out”? No…the house phone rings and when I don’t answer it, they call on the cell phone, or the doorbell chimes.

But alas, I did find my quiet place and time. It’s a small room within a larger room. It has its own door. There is a magazine rack that is kept stocked with the latest reading material. There are two electronic games – Sudoku and Blackjack. There is a near-never-ending supply of paper. There is an old AM/FM radio. There may not be a plush recliner, but there is only room for one to sit. The room is well lit with adequate ventilation most of the time. All I have to do is remember to leave the seat down and the lid up. 

So I found my “time out” place. Lucky me?


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