30 seconds communication

I am always amazed at people. I think it's a fascination with what seems obvious to me and oblivious to them. When I first started homeschooling I was fascinated with how much I didn't know about my son. His likes and dislikes, favourite colours, toys, etc. Now I know him inside and out. He's open and more honest then he ever was when he was in school. He shares everything with me. He's polite and considerate and responsible, how many people can say this of a 12 year old?
I guess what fascinates me is the fact that people don't know their children as well they could! The child is in daycare all day then soccer at night. Weekends are given to family and friends. The parent spends about 4 hours a day with a child on average in today's society. That's bathtime, supper time, and bedtime. They don't seem to notice that their children see them as the caregiver and the caregiver is the parent. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions! I have a home child care and have been working in and around daycares my whole career. There are parents who are very devoted and spend that quality time with their children. The people I'm refering to are the ones where this commercial is advertising to: A child is in the back seat of the car and the parent pulls up to a stop light. The commentor breaks in and says something like; "take this time to talk to your child in our busy lives."
I was amazed that 30 seconds at a light was all the time this parent had! Why don't they skip practice or whereever they're headed for and go for an ice cream, play a board game, or anything that encourages communication with the little stuff! The children will open up with the big issues if you're available to them for the small stuff!
My boys know they can come to me about anything, anytime, anywhere. Not just because I've told them they can but because we have modeled this behaviour and practiced it through our every day lives.
We shouldn't behave like we are strangers living in the same house. Sometimes even being home and not communicating through day to day activities can make this lack of communication behaviour a regular habit. We are all under the same roof doing different things in different rooms. I'm not saying we need to stick to each other glue. (That would drive anybody over the edge. LOL) I am just saying 30 seconds at a stop light is not enough time to build a relationship with your child.
That's my vent for today!