The other morning, my son told me something important without ever speaking a word.
It was early and I heard him calling for me to come to his room.
I grabbed my glasses and my phone and walked into his room. I sat down in a chair near his bed and put my phone on his dresser.
We were playing this game that we play where I ask him questions and he responds with growls and groans that sound similar to our geriatric terrier.
We both know this is silly and he loves when I lean over and pretend to pet him like I do the dog.
He sat up begging for more and I obliged. Without words, he let me know that he loved the petting, the game, the attention.
As he got out of bed, he saw my phone on his dresser. He growled. I didn’t initially get his message and continued the play talk in the same tone.
He stared at the phone and growled some more and this time I noticed.
“My phone? You don’t like my phone?”
He confirmed it with his impersonation of our dog. I hugged him and pet his head before he walked into his bathroom to get ready for the day.
At that point, the barking and dog talk was over; however, I was still thinking about the phone reaction.
If I’m being honest, I have my phone with me a lot. An awful lot.
I check personal and blog email.
I’m writing and uploading blog posts.
I’m texting, tweeting & Facebooking.
I’m capturing words or phrases or ideas for my writing.
I’m asking Siri for answers and researching questions that my TBP throws at me.
I multitask.
Usually, I think this is okay but now I’m not so sure. This game made me wonder if maybe I had it too much.
So, what do you think? Is your phone too present, too much?
My Twice Baked Potato 
This is really timely for me. Thank you. I’ve been lurking for the last few weeks, dipping my toe into the “parent of a gifted child” online world, looking for a community.
My younger son has made a few innocent but honest comments about my phone use lately. I’ve been asking myself this same question.
You and me both😃
I probably use it an okay amount, but I still feel like it’s too much. I’m pretty conscious of it because my husband’s constant phone use drives me bonkers and so I try really hard to be conscious of when I’m using it around the kids. 😛
I understand completely. I am more aware and notice the habit of picking it up and now waiting sometimes.