How Can We Get Our Children Off Their iPhones and Spend Some Time Together?

Because our children are getting older, each one seems to have an iPad, iPhone or some other electronic gadget attached to their hand at all times.

 I noticed that when we were all together talking, some of the kids would zone out of the conversation and start looking at their phones or computers.

 

Several times I had to say nicely, "Excuse me, but your uncle or cousin was telling you a story." Often the response was, "Oh, I'm just texting my friend from camp -- one minute.

Later, my parents joined us all for dinner and even my dad got out his iPhone to post comments on a sports blog, leaving the conversation for 15 minutes. 

All of us can become distracted about the future, or an email or text, and our thoughts leave the present and the ones we are with. I think we believe there is always another time when we can focus on the people that are around us if our minds are elsewhere that day. Yet, who knows what our future holds and the moment that is so precious is often traded for a video game or Facebook feed.

If we can make NOW the most important moment, and the person we are with the most important person, and what we are doing the most important thing, we will be led to more meaningful and fulfilling lives with one another. Being in the NOW, we are present to give and receive the true gift of life -- LOVE.