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Please, please, please put away your phones...

539 replies

User63859 · 22/03/2025 23:22

Just witnessed a mother (and father) totally ignore their 18 month old (ish) child on the tube. Both of them totally engrossed in their phones. The baby was sat up in a buggy, awake (at 11pm but that's another issue) and had moments of trying to get their mother's attention. At one point the child leaned out of the buggy and buried its head in its mother's lap.

Not even a flinch from the mother. So concerned with scrolling (looking at a fashion website fwiw), she literally didn't even make eye contact.

It was heartbreaking. What are we doing to our children? Before all the late night trolls start piling in I'm not saying I'm a perfect parent, we all have our weaknesses, but witnessing this has literally made me so so sad. I think what made me even sadder is the fact the baby just seemed to accept it. They tried to get the smallest acknowledgment from their mother, failed so just sat there staring into space. Oh, and watching their mother prioritise a bit of metal over them.

Please, for the love of whatever, put away your phones. We all like a scroll and a moan on mumsnet but do it when your kids are in bed. I'm so tired of seeing all this shit parenting and worrying about what a messed up world my son is going to grow up in.

To those that are guilty of this, one day you will long for these days back again and by then it will be too late and you'll be wondering why your kids need so much therapy.

Be better, please.

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 22/03/2025 23:30

I do agree OP

When it comes to phones/devices, we all need to do better…whether it’s ignoring our children, friends or whoever

hurdigurdi · 22/03/2025 23:29

Agree. We don’t know the damage we are all doing. Myself included obviously.
i restrict phone activity in our house but even with that it disturbs me that I have to actively restrict.

User63859 · 22/03/2025 23:29

HottyBotty · 22/03/2025 23:25

Maybe mum and dad have had a hell of a day and are knackered. I know the snapshot you saw didn't look good. But I've learnt not to judge snapshots. You never know what the heck has gone on / is going on in people's lives...

I get that, I'm human and a mother to a young child. But parenting is hard, we will have long days but we need to do better and turn up. To ignore a baby (repeatedly, for half an hour) when they're looking for a connection is so terribly tragic. As parents aren't we hard wired to respond to our children? To try and make them feel loved and like they matter? We are responsible for giving them a sense of worth, I've seen far too many times what happens when we fail to do that.

OP posts:
Signetsarah · 22/03/2025 23:29

DiddyHeck · 22/03/2025 23:27

It doesn't take long for the 'But but Olympics' to start.

You know as well as I do that no matter what sort of day they had, they could quite easily still acknowledge their child.

This.

Signetsarah · 22/03/2025 23:28

Superfoodie123 · 22/03/2025 23:27

I'm guilty of it. I agree and want to do better

Get a dumbphone honestly it will change ur life you can do this
phones are an addiction I applaud you for noticing you have an issue

Signetsarah · 22/03/2025 23:28

I agree and I’ve often posted about it here and been shot down in flames
apparently I don’t understand anything and I’m mum shaming…

erm, hope! And also I don’t care. I’ve started even saying to people to focus on their child. If your child is screaming the train down and you’re ignoring them with fucking AirPods in or earphones or scrolling tiktok I’m gonna fucking call you out

children deserve better.

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/03/2025 23:27

Absolutely agree.

Superfoodie123 · 22/03/2025 23:27

I'm guilty of it. I agree and want to do better

DiddyHeck · 22/03/2025 23:27

HottyBotty · 22/03/2025 23:25

Maybe mum and dad have had a hell of a day and are knackered. I know the snapshot you saw didn't look good. But I've learnt not to judge snapshots. You never know what the heck has gone on / is going on in people's lives...

It doesn't take long for the 'But but Olympics' to start.

You know as well as I do that no matter what sort of day they had, they could quite easily still acknowledge their child.

DawnBreaks · 22/03/2025 23:26

Oh absolutely agree. Poor wee thing. I feel so bad for that child.

DiddyHeck · 22/03/2025 23:25

Preachy, but I have to say I totally agree.

HottyBotty · 22/03/2025 23:25

Maybe mum and dad have had a hell of a day and are knackered. I know the snapshot you saw didn't look good. But I've learnt not to judge snapshots. You never know what the heck has gone on / is going on in people's lives...

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 22/03/2025 23:24

I agree too!

Themostlikely · 22/03/2025 23:22

I agree

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