The Park is for Playing

Dear moms (and dads) at the park today,

Get off your fucking phone.  Yeah, I said it.  Turn it off, put it down, and/or step away.  I'm serious.

When your toddler is dangling in the baby swing, yet at a complete halt, totally still, staring into space because you're texting and completely oblivious to this fact....GET OFF THE PHONE!

When your child asks ME to help her cross the monkey bars because you're sitting on the bench yammering away on your cell...GET OFF THE PHONE!

When you finally look up after being thoroughly engrossed in your smart phone and have a panic-striken look on your face because you realize your child is nowhere in sight and start shouting, "Lily! Lily!" until I point her out to you....GET OFF THE PHONE!

I mean seriously.  I get it.  We like our phones.  We are a connected society.  This isn't the first time I'm broaching this topic. (Are You Connected?)  But honestly...if you can't put your phone down to push your child on the swing, that's a problem.  What kind of message is that sending to your child?  That your phone is more worthy of your attention that they are?!

I understand there are circumstances. Maybe it was an emergency.  Maybe you were "working."  But you are still at the park with your kid.  Can't you make a better effort?  I fully admit that I like my phone.  But I don't need it at the park.  I had it at the park, only because a friend was possibly meeting me and needed to call to see if I was still there.  But guess where it was?  Tucked into my underpants because I didn't have any pockets.  (I tried sticking my keys in the other side, but they kept falling down my pant leg.)  And the only time I looked at it was to check the time.  No, I don't think I'm better than you.   But I do think I enjoyed my time at the park with my children more than you did.  Because they had my attention.  All of my attention.  When Little E climbed up and jumped to reach the monkey bars completely unsuccessfully, I was almost there to catch her. :)   In my defense, I was helping Miss A across said monkey bars and had told Little E to wait JUST ONE MINUTE and they were not high monkey bars and she did not cry. 

Anyway, the point is this...it's getting old.  When will you hear me?  When will you cut the theoretical cord on your phone and thus be able to live your life more present in the moment with your children?  The sooner the better folks.  And in the meantime, GET OFF YOUR FUCKING PHONE!

Sincerely,
Mommy Spills