Last night as Gen and I were chatting about the ins and outs of a high school Monday around bowls full of broccoli and pasta, my cell phone rang from across the room where it was charging. Without hesitation, she ran over to the dock and looked at it’s screen.
Excitedly she gasped, “It’s your friend Sally!”
I encouraged her back to the table, abandoning the singing phone. In complete confusion (after all she is only fourteen) I explained to her that we were eating dinner and talking with each other, and that’s why I have a voice mail.
“But we talk all of the time. We’ve had lots of time to talk. She’s your friend.”
I smiled and tried again. “And you are my daughter. We are having a conversation at dinner and it does not matter if we are talking about something as silly as marshmallow or something life or death serious- this dinner conversation with you is top priority over anything that is happening with that phone.”
“what if it’s an emergency?”
I tried to look thoughtful before replying, “then I guess her voicemail will let me know that I need to call her back.”
We finished dinner, chatting with ease about bit of everything, ranging from serious to the not so much… Sometime later she went to take a shower and I decided to call my mom to see how she was doing. (In case you’re curious, Sally was fine and I did try to call her first but just got her voicemail.)
When Gen was done with her shower and came back downstairs she saw I was on the phone and gasped in mock outrage, “I see how you are! Obviously my shower wasn’t important to you. Now I know how you feel about the priority of my hygiene.”
Stinker…
Rainy Day in May... 
Ha! That’s a fun story. My kids don’t always get that whole “let the phone ring” thing. Of course, I screen my calls all the time, whether I’m busy or not. I’m just like that. I’d rather call someone back than answer a call I wasn’t expecting. I’m trying to get over that.
I don’t think screening your calls is a bad thing. I’m very selective about who and when I’ll answer for. It’s not awful to have good boundaries and put your life first.
Haha!
Teenage girls are awesome. :) I know, I have two of them and they keep me on my toes.
Isn’t it funny how THEIR generation is such a slave to the smart phone? I try so hard to get through to my 17 year old that life is ok without your phone is your freakin’ face.
Oye.
Well, thank you for the giggle. Glad to hear Sally is ok.
Suz
Actually I’ve watched my older kids be complete slaves to their phone and often snub real life conversation or quality time for technology so often that we’ve instilled in our 14 year old STRONG phone values. She can’t stomach it when people pull that stuff. it gets her upset. I think, in her defense, she knows I’ve been a little friend lonely and she was just thinking of me…
Gen is so funny!
What an amazing gift to give, both in teaching Gen something of importance and showing her she’s worth more to you than answering the phone (even when you’re lonely for girlfriend time). Good Mama!
Thanks, KL!
Grinning with you, Misty, at your daughter’s line. What a sweet exchange. I love those laughing and bonding conversations with my teens. :)
Re your comment on my post “Chased,” hmm, thank you, Misty. Those times of seeing him at work are meaningful, aren’t they? Too often I race through my day and forget to look for him, forget to ask to see him, and forget to see.
He’s moving in your life too, friend. I’m convinced of it. :)
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
I’m convinced too, I just don’t always see/feel it…
On Wed, Oct 2, 2013 at 6:42 PM, rainydayinmay