Recently, another photo has circulated online featuring parents who dared to glance at their phones while their kids were nearby. This image, tagged #modernparenting, shows two little ones snuggled between their parents on the NYC subway while both adults focus on their devices.
Reactions to this snapshot have ranged from extreme disapproval to outright outrage: “This is a problem, put those stupid things down!” and “Pitiful.” But hold on—what if these parents were scrolling through cherished photos from their day out? Perhaps they were arranging for a babysitter or checking work emails. Or maybe they just needed a moment of boredom relief on a subway ride. Why is it so unacceptable for adults to check their phones when they’re with their kids?
When did we collectively decide that parents should be gazing lovingly at their children every single moment? There’s no backlash when a parent reads a magazine or engages in conversation with another adult while kids are around. Why the double standard with cell phone use?
It’s more concerning that a stranger felt it was acceptable to snap a photo of a family and share it online with a judgmental hashtag. The collective disdain directed at parents for using their phones is amusing when you consider that everyone around us is glued to their screens. Yes, our devices have a grip on us, but the outrage seems to escalate when the person distracted is a mom or dad.
There’s even a Tumblr dedicated to shaming parents for using their phones in front of their kids. It’s called Parents On Phones, and its mission is to post anonymous photos of families while making sanctimonious comments about their phone habits. One caption reads, “My daughter posing next to a mom who has no idea where her kid is.” But let’s take a moment to ask: what is the person running this account doing with their own kids while they snap these shots? Are they perhaps gasp using their phones to share their judgments?
We could all use a little break from our devices. Parents aren’t any more addicted to technology than the rest of us. If you’re curious about parenting and related topics, check out our insightful post on home insemination at this link. For comprehensive information on fertility journeys, visit this resource. And for those seeking resources on pregnancy and home insemination, this site is an excellent place to start.
In summary, let’s stop holding parents to the unrealistic expectation of constant engagement. They’re allowed to check their phones just like anyone else.