Dear Moms, Dads, Relatives, Educators and Business Owners

A programme on television entitled "Future Homes" caught my attention the other night and it was so fascinating, I even put my laptop down for half an hour.

I was most intrigued by the family whose household was managed by a computer with a virtual female character. The entire security system, air temperature, wall decorations and general home ambience could be programmed to their liking and activated by voice command. (Hey, imagine that, someone in your house who actually listens to what you say - what a novelty.) The computer could also display the latest news stories, weather reports or social network posts on screens set up throughout the house. You could ask for recipes and shopping lists based on the food you had in your house and your family's likes and dislikes and nutritional requirements.

That's all incredible and nice and everything, but what about outsourcing the boring stuff, like nagging. Can you imagine having a cyber nanny to nag the kids for you? How brilliant would that be? You could programme Cyber Nanny to nag your kids into getting out of bed and getting ready for school every morning whilst you take your time in a relaxing bath! Cyber Nanny could tell them what to pack in their bags and snack boxes and remind them (and you) what extra murals are scheduled for the day. If they don't listen to Cyber Nanny then she can put a force field around their toys or belongings until they do. Cyber Nanny won't activate the television or games consul until all homework is done and the junk food cupboard will only be unlocked by Cyber Nanny at the weekend (unless of course you have had a bad day at work and the kids are asleep in bed).

Who knows I may be rich and famous one day for taking the nagging out of parenting. Until then I will have to be happy with a brief television appearance on Monday 23rd March on Great Expectations on eTV at 11h30. So if you would like to see me step outside my comfort zone away from my laptop and the cyber world, I will be briefly giving my 2 cents worth on how mums communicate today, or I could be staring wide eyed at the camera like a rabbit in the headlights.

www.kidzworld.co.za

PS: Why not lower your stress levels and have a bit of a laugh with 1Life Direct's fun quiz for parents.