Technology is awesome and truly saves a lot of time. However, with all of our busy lifestyles, do we have to make ourselves available all of the time? If someone calls and we're driving, do we have to respond immediately? A survey recently conducted by Erik Nelson, a senior cognitive psychology student at the University of Kansas, found that out of 300 students polled, 72 percent said they text message while driving, and 100 percent admitted talking while driving. My sister and I recently talked about how we have to use our reading glasses and concentrate when composing a text message. I assume that a lot of kids have it down to a science and don't have to look at all. At any rate, when driving, we really should be concentrating on all of those people running red lights. Cameras can't do it all.
Recently I watched as a family of three set up a laptop so their young daughter could watch a movie while they dined in a restaurant. What about the art of conversation? Could they not talk as a family? At one point, I heard the dad threaten his daughter that if she didn't behave, he would turn off her movie. She was about seven years old. I didn't look to see what she was doing. Maybe she just wanted a little attention.
Okay. I do eat out a lot. A couple of days ago, one of my daughters and I were eating at Corner Bakery. A lady was on her cell phone at a table near us and was talking loudly. I didn't notice that an older woman had joined her until I heard someone say to my daughter, "I guess you didn't hear me. I was talking about the pictures on the wall." We both looked at her. She continued, "They remind me of my aunts and uncles. They got up every morning to bake bread. People don't even like to cook now." We tried to return to our food several times, but she never stopped talking. She was obviously wanting a little attention, and her dinner companion (probably her daughter) was too busy on her cell phone to give it to her. So, she chose us.
Today's kids are used to doing everything at once. My parents insisted we sit down in a quiet room and do homework. We always ate at the table and engaged in conversation. Sometimes this meant I had to listen to constant reminders to drink my milk, but at least I was getting attention. No wonder it is so hard to get students to focus and listen. They are too used to being entertained!
You have my attention!