Put the dang phone down! Do you just want to yell this out loud sometimes? We are all victims and perpetrators in this offense people. I can’t let my entire experience in this 21st century be totally ruled by the land of social media, smart phones, minipads, and the like without saying something.

Man, I sound like a grandparent.

In all honesty, I will be the first person to say how convenient a phone or tablet is, but there are times when you need quality time. Call it a “hippy” revival. Call it being “old fashioned”. I crave a real conversation with my kids at times! I love seeing their faces and hearing their voices. I set the table, I cook their favorite meal and I tell everyone it’s time to eat. The giddy rift of excitement builds through my body as I think of looking deeply into their eyes and having a meaningful conversation! Then blah. Everyone brings their phones, or is too busy in the middle of their binge watching to sit down to a real dinner.

It’s mom’s and dad’s against the world sometimes folks. The ball is in our court and the challenge is here. What is it going to take to repeat the request to put down the device, the video game, the online streaming, so that we can enjoy one another?  Our world will survive if we don’t check every message ding. And slowly but surely we will rediscover how much we can actually do in one another’s company!

I recently saw my husband come back from work and put his phone down to play with the girls. He let them do his hair, and I almost cried. With laughter!! It was priceless. It involved quality time and I won’t soon forget it! He was in an imaginary high-end salon, with 2-toddler stylists at his every whim. I enjoyed every little minute!

I refuse to be the parent at the park or the baseball game with my phone out. I refuse to have my phone anywhere near the dinner table. This may never catch on — but I don’t want my loved ones to suffer 2nd hand from my texting.

Thanks for reading this rant 🙂

Let’s enjoy this summer the right way~