It’s official, my son is addicted to his cell phone.

Before you think that I am the worst parent in the world for allowing my 3-year-old son to have a cell phone, don’t fret. It is an awesome Spiderman toy flip phone.

The buttons make noise.

It is bright red.

A few nights ago, I sat down at the dinner table with my family and let Tripp know that he could grab a toy to bring to the table while we ate. He returned with a proud smile on his face and laid his Spiderman cell phone down on the table beside his dinner plate.

I didn’t think much of it until he interrupted me to tell me his Nana was calling. Holding the toy phone up to his ear, he enjoyed a nice 30-second make-believe conversation.

A few minutes later he interrupted my wife and said, “Wait! I need to take a video of Brooke eating her food to send it to Grandmama!”

My wife and I sat in amazement as he perfectly held the phone up to take a “video” of our daughter while she ate broccoli.

Time after time that evening he kept reaching for his phone pretending to answer calls, look up videos, and text people.

As we sat down to watch TV that evening he ran to get his phone and told me he needed it close by in case someone called him.

In a matter of one evening, my son showed me that he is clearly addicted to his “phone.”

This is what I thought until I realized who he has learned this from.

Tripp’s behavior has been extremely telling of how I carry my phone through the house.

I set my phone on our kitchen table while we eat. I carry my phone around my house in case someone calls me. I constantly post on social medias. I even play funny videos for him.

The truth is that my son isn’t addicted to a cell phone … I am.

Our kids are constantly watching our every move. Even the smallest actions are being processed and perfected in their little minds.

You can’t fool your kids! They know what is important to you. Their core values of life will be learned by your actions, not your words. This goes for their spiritual life and personal development. Kids will learn what it means to be an adult by examining the way you live your life.

Nothing on this planet can replace the influence (negative or positive) that a parent has on his/her children.

As Anne and I laughed about the situation we decided that there were some changes that we needed to make to ensure our kids have a healthy view of technology, social medias, and connectivity. So from now on, for starters, I will not have my cell phone sitting on the dining room table as we eat meals.

Trust me, I need to be connected! But the connection has to be with my kids and not my phone.

While Tripp is still playing with his cell phone, he has noticed that mine is not around as much.

What habits are your kids starting to notice in you?

 

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