Aibu to think that parents who stare at their phone and completely blank their children are a bit shit really.

[gingganggooleywotsit]

Ok I am being judgey and I know I’m only seeing a snapshot of someone’s life but it’s really upsetting me. I’ve been sitting in a coffee shop for a couple of hours doing a bit of work and there is a couple there with a 5 year old boy and they are literally glued to their phones. He’s having to hit them round the head practically to get them to look at him. He has nothing to play with keeps nearly running in the traffic and they will not look up from their phones. Little boy looks really upset. Yeah they might be working too I’ve been there wiith my kids but give the boy something to do or at least make eye contact occasionally! It’s like he’s invisible. 😞

I agree, it's really sad, i see it a lot at the park

I’m mixed about this since it could have been me yesterday.

Took the kids to a museum, talked a lot, did various other bits etc etc. Then took them to Costa and pretty much ignored them for 30minutes while I sorted out some domestic admin - openly shushed them a few times. The rest of the day was largely spent being a Pinterest mum.

You’re only seeing a snapshot…

You see 30 mins of Mum zoning out at a park whilst her kids play, you don’t see the rest of the day. I’d be really pissed off if someone judged me for that.

Agreed 👍👍👍
It makes me sad 😢

Kids need to be able to amuse themselves. Ad long as kts not all day every day yabu.

I used to feel like this until I had a kid myself. You can’t be 100% giving them your attention all the time.

What age are your kids OP?

The kind of person that not only judges people based off an extremely small set of data but then goes to post about it on the internet is far more likely to make me think they are shit. But that's the world we live in these days unfortunately, people are judgemental and have an unwavering belief that they are better than others.

I did this in a restaurant yesterday. We were trying to book a water sport and arrange to meet friends. Both of which DD wanted to do.

She'd rather we were on our phones for a bit than not arrange those things.

But I agree the endless social media trawling is dispiriting.

@Taoneusa

I see this all the time and also find it distressing to witness.

It's not gold standard parenting but it's not Angela's Ashes.

Quick. Call SS and tell them you've seen less than perfect parent.

It doesn’t bother me as it might be the only break they’ve had all day; but it’s not great when there’s 2 parents present and the child is being completely ignored. They don’t both need to be on their phone at the same time. Especially if the child is upset.

Thanks for the hyperbole.

I work as a freelancer, and while I do most of my work in the evenings during the holidays (I work 6pm when DH gets home until around 2am), I do often have to reply to emails during the day. This means I’m one of those shit parents who is glued to their phones when the kids are at soft play or in the park. I probably look a bit zombiefied due to having a SEN child and less than 5 hours sleep a night. And sometimes I’m dismissive when he says the same thing to me for the thousandth time that day because he gets obsessive thoughts in his head. Nice to know that other mothers are silently judging me though.

Can’t get worked up about this at all.

I remember going in to cafes when I was a child and my dad would read a newspaper 🤷🏼‍♀️ what’s the difference?

I judge.

@Taoneusa I sincerely think you need a little grip.

Would it be different if they were reading a book?

Honestly this really annoys me, it's the school holidays give parents a little break. I do think they should have something to entertain the child but who knows what's going on.

@funinthesun19

Can’t get worked up about this at all.

I remember going in to cafes when I was a child and my dad would read a newspaper 🤷🏼‍♀️ what’s the difference?

Same but at home. My mum would say ‘go and play while I read the paper and drink my tea’.

I get shit from my mum for being on my phone when in fact I’m sorting out the kids school stuff, organising for them to play with their friends, booking doctors appointments etc.

I remember when mine were little and in parks or buggies, when we were out and about, we’d chat about what we could see, point out police cars or fire engines, look at plants and flowers etc.

Where I live, there’s a lake with ducks, swans, birds and all kinds of wildlife. I’m pretty fed up of seeing people walk round there with their children in pram and buggies, pushing them with one hand, whilst scrolling through the phone with the other. The children invariably look bored. I see it every day and they do it in the play parks too. Parent sits on a bench. Child is talking to parent, who is on the phone and not hearing.

it's not Angela's Ashes.

This made me laugh!

The judgement is strong on this thread.