Men seem to play a strange game in modern society, being obligated to provide for the needs of their family while at the same time being particularly responsible for the emotional, psychological, and mental development of their children, especially the boys. The job requires that they spend the majority of their time away from their child, preventing them from doing both.



In ages past it was not this way. Fathers had a major responsibility in training their children in a trade. Fathers would take their sons with them to work and teach them the family trade. Most of their day was spent with their children, showing them how to become a man and acculturating them into society.

It is certainly not that way today. Children have their own version of work (i.e. school) that we send them to everyday. There the responsibility to teach our children how to become productive members of society is handed over to government bureaucrats and professional nannies. There are ways to buck this system of institutionalized parent-child separation (home schooling is one), but many of them are cost prohibitive or socially unacceptable.

However, there are still ways to use technology to get back some of the ground lost in parenthood.

One particular device that can be used in this way is a GPS tracking watch. While gadgets are not exactly the best answer for this particular problem, the can help span the chasm that separates the modern man from his children. Also, since GPS devices are becoming increasingly available to the public this idea could be used with more than just a GPS tracking watch. The idea I am about to describe can also be another way that you can utilize your GPS, making it an even better purchase than before.

The first step to making a connection with your child when you go off to work is to wear your GPS watch to work. While you are on your way your watch will be silently and accurately logging all sorts of useful information such as you location in space, what time you were at that location, your speed when you were at that location, and your heart rate if you have a heart rate monitor on your watch.

Once your day has been recorded by your watch the next step is to upload that information into you computer and get it into one of the many free mapping programs available on the internet. These programs often have a three dimensional option that will be vital when you undertake the next phase of the plan.

In this portion of the plan you sit down with your child and you show them your day on the map. This could be boring for those desk monkeys who sit in a cubicle all day long answer phones and saying, "This Kevin in accounting, how may I help you?" You will need an extra dose of imagination to make your day come alive to your child, but this is necessary for them to see since they will probably have a similar job someday in the future.

If you are in a profession that has you constantly moving, like an officer of the law, a plumber, a postman, or a construction worker, you will probably be able to relay your day to your child simply and easily. You will not need to dream up things to share because your day will take you to all sorts of interesting things - at least to a child's mind.

You could bring up the odor of a particular house you had to work in, or the mean looking canine you saw, or even the old lady that was driving terribly and show them exactly on a map where it happened - and in 3D. Kids love that stuff. Then you could tell them what you did at that house, or why you were on that street, or where you were going when you saw the old lady driving. Then you can show them some secret of your trade that will be useful to them. You could even let them practice it on something together so that you are taking an active roll in their life.