Kids & Electronics rant

[MaumeeMom]

I am admittedly a strict parent. My DH & I have tried to instill manners and politeness in our children, and for the most part we have succeeded. One of my rules is "No electronics at the dinner table." We use this time to actually talk to each other and to teach table manners.

We went out to eat with various friends during the holiday season and all the other kids were texting, listening to music or playing games on their iPods or Gameboys.

I just can't even imagine letting my kids do this. Our kids were able to sit politely, carry on conversations with each other and the other adults at the table and then they actually ate their food.

I tried engaging some of the other kids in conversation but was rewarded with either short or one word answers or was just ignored. I'm talking all ages here too, not just teens texting. How are these kids going to function when they grow up?

To me this is beyond rude. Why not just leave the kids at home if they are not going to participate in the holiday celebration?

I was glad that the waitresses & waiters usually acknowledged our kids and their manners, it made them feel good. One night I rewarded them with dessert, and it was a reward not a bribe. I had not told them be good and you can get dessert but surprised them by ordering it at the end of the meal without them even asking for it.

I just don't get it. Is this the norm?

 

[krcit]

I was going to post something the same thing! Christmas dinner and my 19 yo dn was texting through the whole thing. I looked at my SIL to see if she was going to say anything and she was texting too

 

[mvazul]

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it is the norm. My husband and I took the kids out to eat a few months ago. The table next to us had a mom, dad and three kids. I would say their ages were about 12, 10 and 8. All three were using DS's. The parents were both on their cell phones - through the entire meal. It drove us nuts. Even our kids (15 year old son and 7 year old daughter) said something to us.

I have recently returned to college. I can't believe how much texting goes on during class. It's highly annoying.

Michelle

 

[wenrob]

Sadly it seems to be. I have the same rules as you, I refuse to walk around with a kid who has their head down all the time. It's not just kids anymore though. I can't tell you how many adults I've come across blocking isles or out to dinner absorbed in texting or checking their email. Seriously, it can't wait an hour?

 

[mvazul]

I was going to post something the same thing! Christmas dinner and my 19 yo dn was texting through the whole thing. I looked at my SIL to see if she was going to say anything and she was texting too

Maybe they were texting each other!!

 

[dakcp2001]

Actually I saw a segment on the Today show a few months back about how the younger generations are now becoming more socially awkward and if they do not have anything in their hands like an ipod or cell phone,they get anxiety and cannot seem to carry on normal conversations. They lakc in eye contact and normal responses in conversations. They said that the upcoming generation is lacking in normal social skills and having a lot of trouble with interviewing. It is sort aof a "wait and see" to see how it pans out.

 

[shelly3girls]

I just had a similar conversation with DD10. She has a friend that brings her cell phone everywhere. Whenever we are in the car she sits and texts other people. I make her put the phone away b/c I think it is completely rude. Unfortunately though, this habit is just one of many rude behaviors that irk me.

 

[MaumeeMom]

Maybe they were texting each other!!

That is what I thought during one of the dinners! I was really self conscious that the teenage girls were texting insults about me/us back and forth because they would giggle and look up at us then quickly look away.

It really is sad to think that these kids will not be able to function without these "tools".

I'm glad that I'm not the only "Mean Mom" out there.

Even my kids will bust their father if he checks his blackberry during family time. Unfortunately, during one dinner it helped us out as our friends texted that they were running late - 20 minutes late! We were at the restaurant with drinks before they even left their house. My DH was just checking the time on his phone when he saw the message light otherwise we wouldn't have had any idea that they would be so late.

Yikes!

 

[Art 1]

Your children are lucky to have a good mother who is teaching them how to act properly. It will pay off for you and them in the future.

 

[FireDancer]

That is just ridiculous. I am in the technology field and have gadgets on my all the time. If I am at dinner the phone is on vibrate and if I have to answer it I excuse myself. I also hate it and think it is rude when someone goes to the cashier or counter on the phone. If I am on a call I stand to the side and finish it first. If it rings while I am at the counter I excuse myself or ignore it.

There is nothing wrong with having electronics, I love them, but being rude is still being rude.

 

[pearlieq]

It's not just kids, sadly. I can't tell you how many of my friends (in their 30s) think nothing of taking out their phones at the dinner table, at a party, or while we're hanging out.

It's so rude to the people you're with--if you're socializing with someone, they deserve your undivided attention.

It's also really awkward for the person you're with. What am I supposed to do while sitting at the restaurant table and you're on the phone or texting? Read the back of the sugar packets? Chat up the waiter?

I'm so grateful to parents who still insist that their kids act politely. I think it's the only hope for our future!

 

[Wall-E1]

I just don't get it. Is this the norm?

This is the norm. Just because this is the norm, it does not make it right. I also don't allow electronic devices to be used when we go out to eat or go to family gatherings. It's a matter of simple, old fashioned manners.

 

[mhsjax]

I am admittedly a strict parent. My DH & I have tried to instill manners and politeness in our children, and for the most part we have succeeded. One of my rules is "No electronics at the dinner table." We use this time to actually talk to each other and to teach table manners.

We went out to eat with various friends during the holiday season and all the other kids were texting, listening to music or playing games on their iPods or Gameboys.

I just can't even imagine letting my kids do this. Our kids were able to sit politely, carry on conversations with each other and the other adults at the table and then they actually ate their food.

I tried engaging some of the other kids in conversation but was rewarded with either short or one word answers or was just ignored. I'm talking all ages here too, not just teens texting. How are these kids going to function when they grow up?

To me this is beyond rude. Why not just leave the kids at home if they are not going to participate in the holiday celebration?

I was glad that the waitresses & waiters usually acknowledged our kids and their manners, it made them feel good. One night I rewarded them with dessert, and it was a reward not a bribe. I had not told them be good and you can get dessert but surprised them by ordering it at the end of the meal without them even asking for it.

I just don't get it. Is this the norm?

It isn't the norm in my world, I have the same rules. At dinner there will be no electronics. I even fuss at my hubby if he takes a call(which is rare).

 

[MaumeeMom]

Your children are lucky to have a good mother who is teaching them how to act properly. It will pay off for you and them in the future.

Thanks! That is what I keep telling them - "When you're forty you'll thank me for this."

 

[mvazul]

That is just ridiculous. I am in the technology field and have gadgets on my all the time. If I am at dinner the phone is on vibrate and if I have to answer it I excuse myself. I also hate it and think it is rude when someone goes to the cashier or counter on the phone. If I am on a call I stand to the side and finish it first. If it rings while I am at the counter I excuse myself or ignore it.

There is nothing wrong with having electronics, I love them, but being rude is still being rude.

Our local pharmacy has a sign at the counter that says, "Finish your call and we will be more than happy to help you!"

 

[MaumeeMom]

That is just ridiculous. I am in the technology field and have gadgets on my all the time. If I am at dinner the phone is on vibrate and if I have to answer it I excuse myself. I also hate it and think it is rude when someone goes to the cashier or counter on the phone. If I am on a call I stand to the side and finish it first. If it rings while I am at the counter I excuse myself or ignore it.

There is nothing wrong with having electronics, I love them, but being rude is still being rude.

That is the best way to handle calls.

My DH does this too. He gets calls at all hours and it seems like every time we go out he gets one that he has to answer. He does excuse himself and step outside or into a waiting area. When we go out I just turn my phone off because anyone who really needs me knows to call DH's # if I don't answer.

I have one friend who calls me on her lunch hour and sometimes I don't know who she is talking to - me or the person at the McDonald's drive thru.

 

[MaumeeMom]

Our local pharmacy has a sign at the counter that says, "Finish your call and we will be more than happy to help you!"

I like that!!!

 

[wenrob]

Our local pharmacy has a sign at the counter that says, "Finish your call and we will be more than happy to help you!"

Our Port of Subs has one that says, "If you are on your cell phone we will skip to the next person." LOVE it!

 

[MnMomtoboys]

My 16 yr. old is so good about this that I don't always notice he is doing this. He knows not too. The under guys know they can't have their ds's. They do sometimes play a card game or color.

As for friends I don't mind if they are just checking the phone for calls from the kids, sometimes we will call someone who is late otherwise we are there for each other.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Luckily, we've been able to avoid getting our boys (14 and 11) cell phones. The older one has Asperger's and isn't very social to begin with so he's never expressed the desire to have a phone. My kids do have DS's and iPods but they leave them in the car when we eat out. DS14 likes to have a magazine at restaurants. He gets anxious waiting for his food and then gets bored if he finishes first so we allow him to read quietly while everyone else finishes.

I was extremely annoyed by a boy at another table when we went out to dinner last week. The tables were kind of close together and this boy was playing his DS with the volume all the way up. The adults at his table were talking loudly so they could hear each other over the DS. No one at the table thought to have him turn the volume down (or turn the DS off!).