Take a few minutes to watch it. It will make you think. I definitely am guilty of this. Are you? I find myself pretty much attached to my phone. It's a problem. I know I'm not alone in this. Maybe you are better about it than I am but I'm trying to change. This video really hit home with me.
In today's world, everything is literally a quick click away. While this is sometimes helpful, especially when trying to help my 8th grader with math, it can also be a problem. For instance, I try not to be on my phone when I'm spending time with my kids. After school we usually sit at the kitchen table and do homework. They don't really need my help but when they do, we often look stuff up on my phone. So then my phone is right there and they are busy...why not hop over to facebook. 10 minutes have now gone by and I'm still on my phone. Granted, my kids are busy doing work but this is just an example on how quickly we can get sucked in and not even realize it.
As adults we are supposed to set an example for our kids. If I'm that bad on my phone, then why should I be surprised when my 9 year old wants to always be on his Ipad or when my 13 year takes her phone to the bathroom with her? They are just following my example. Yes I can limit their time on their screens or only let them use them for educational purposes but who is going to limit my time? I'm not knocking screen time because I love it for many reasons. I guess there's just a time or time limit for everything.
Last weekend we were at my son's basketball game and my husband got him by a ball....because he was looking down at his phone. (I can only point this out because I've been guilty too.) Granted, he was answering a text from one of his students but still...I'm sure it could have waited. I looked around at the stands and at least another 5-6 people were looking down at their phones. Imagine if your child had just scored a basket and looked up at you and you were on your phone? I'm sure in most cases, whatever you were looking at could have waited.
Or what about when you are at a family member's house visiting or at a birthday party? Are you really in the moment with that family or friend that you are there to see? Or are you on your phone checking facebook, watching videos of someone else, texting?? We had a family member visit a while ago and my son commented after they left that they were on their phone the whole time texting and looking at facebook. He made a comment along the lines of "I thought they were here to see us."
I'm not writing this or pointing it out to make anyone feel guilty because I, myself, have done EVERY. SINGLE. ONE of these things. And sadly, I do it without even realizing it or realizing what I'm missing. Granted, some nights we are just sitting around watching TV so I'm on my phone or computer but do I really need to be? Can't it wait another hour until my kids go to bed? Is someone's status or tweet really that important? Probably not. I don't want my kids to think back and just remember me with a phone in my hand or screen in front of my face.
So starting right now, I'm going to be better. I'm going to be with the people I'm with. I'm going to stay in the moment and not miss anything. I'm going to be more aware. And I'm going to have you all watching me and holding me accountable. I can't promise I'm going to be perfect and hopefully if you see me with my phone out at a sporting event it's because I'm snapping pictures. I hope you will all try harder too. Because before we know it, these kids are going to be off on their own and the moment will be gone. And then you will have all kinds of time to stalk their facebook page.
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