During our recent trip to Florida, we enjoyed some major family time. Beach in the morning, biking in the afternoon, pool in the evening. Add in some serious lizard hunting and Disney rides and extra ice cream cones and I’d say it was a kid fantasy come true.
By the time dinner rolled around, we all were pretty much spent. Long days in the hot sun left us feeling…tired. So, Chris and I broke our unspoken rule about limiting screen time and we reluctantly but gleefully handed our iPhones over to the kids. Vivian and Evie watched American Girl Doll videos on YouTube while Mack blasted aliens in some sort of game. No fighting or wandering or wiggly butts for Chris and me to manage while we waited for our food to arrive.
However, whether real or imagined, I swear that some fellow diners looked at us with disdain. There we were, a family out to enjoy family time, and we drugged the kids on screen time so we could zone out.
Well, yeah. Basically.
From sun up til nearly sun down, we did nothing but interact with the kids. We engaged them in every way imaginable. We made memories! We laughed! We had fun! And once it was time for dinner, I just wanted to sip a mojito with my handsome husband. Is that such a bad thing?!
I know that it doesn’t matter what random people in Florida think of me, my family or my parenting style. But, rude stares and nasty looks don’t put any positive energy into the world, so all you judgie mcjudgersons can find something else to complain about!
Now, someone get me a drink.
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i absolutely see your point of view given the days you had and how much you integrated with your kids. But, I am also one of those people who does look at a table of kids using technology and judge them, I think it is wrong. So, if I knew your personal situation, I wouldn’t think badly of you, but my general experience (with family, friends etc) is that giving kids tech at the table is just a way to shut them up and doesn’t teach conversation skills or interest in others.
It could be just the use of smart phones/tablets in a restaurant in general. Especially if the sound is not muted. I know that tends to bother me if I am out to eat.