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July 23, 2007 10:38 AM PDT

Moms, just say no to babysitting Webkinz

by Amy Tiemann
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Now I have heard everything. On top of all the duties that moms are supposed to do, some are now babysitting their kids' Webkinz online pets while the children are away at summer camp.

In the world of overintensive parenting and martyred moms, can we all agree that spending a half hour to an hour a day caring for pretend critters is a good place to draw the line at ridiculous demands that are made of our time? (Of course there is no mention of dads being asked to take over this ridiculous "duty.")

Webkinz never die but they "get sick" and need medicine if they are ignored. This costs virtual KinzCash that kids earn by answering quizzes and playing on the site.

If parents want their kids to learn responsibility by caring for their Webkinz, I say this should include the responsibility of feeling a hit in their pocketbook when they need someone else to care for these "pets." In our larger society, mothers face major economic hurdles related to the fact that our caregiving labor doesn't "count" in any official way. Let's not let our children get away with the illusion that caregiving is free.

Moms, claim back your time and let that KinzCash account go to zero.

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About parent . thesis

Today's parents may live and work on the cutting edge, but we didn't grow up in a digital era. (parent.thesis) brings you the latest news and musings about life raising kids in today's 24-7, hyperconnected world. MojoMom.com creator Amy Tiemann and open-source software pioneer Michael Tiemann are a 21st-century couple. They take a leap of faith as parents and build their parachute on the way down, living by the motto, "We aren't raising our children for the world we live in, we're raising them for the world they'll live in." Disclosure.

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