This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned some of the annoying noises that I encounter on my walks around the neighborhood. The top two are the leaf blowers and mowers that I pass, and the enormous garbage and transport trucks that pass me.
On the other hand, there are sounds that I love to hear, specifically people enjoying each other: families chatting while on a bike ride, friends walking and talking. The other day I wished for just such a conversation, but unfortunately, there was only silence. A little boy and his mom were leaving their house and on the way to the car. The toddler was doing just what a two year old should be doing; he was slowly and carefully walking along the little stone border that separated the lawn from the walkway. The mom, on the other hand, was doing just what a young mom should not be doing; she was texting.
I wanted to be hearing a conversation between the two of them. What an opportunity for the mom to affirm what her son was doing, to extend language, to model how human beings interact with each other in a positive way. I won’t go into all the negatives that were happening; you can fill in the blanks.
When my children were toddlers, there was no texting. I am aware that it’s a different world today, but I also know that everyone, not just little kids, wants the full attention of another. That will never change, nor will the opportunities, nor will the option to put the cell phone away.
On the other hand, there are sounds that I love to hear, specifically people enjoying each other: families chatting while on a bike ride, friends walking and talking. The other day I wished for just such a conversation, but unfortunately, there was only silence. A little boy and his mom were leaving their house and on the way to the car. The toddler was doing just what a two year old should be doing; he was slowly and carefully walking along the little stone border that separated the lawn from the walkway. The mom, on the other hand, was doing just what a young mom should not be doing; she was texting.
I wanted to be hearing a conversation between the two of them. What an opportunity for the mom to affirm what her son was doing, to extend language, to model how human beings interact with each other in a positive way. I won’t go into all the negatives that were happening; you can fill in the blanks.
When my children were toddlers, there was no texting. I am aware that it’s a different world today, but I also know that everyone, not just little kids, wants the full attention of another. That will never change, nor will the opportunities, nor will the option to put the cell phone away.