HI Sue Blaney here with your Parenting Tip from Parenting Teens Info.com

My tip this week is Throw away the Blackberry! >>Listen

This week’s 2 minute tip came from seeing Frank Luntz throw his cell phone across the studio in a recent Today Show interview. His point is well taken: parents need to get off the phone when it takes your attention away from your teenagers.  

As a society our inappropriate and discourteous use of cell phones has gotten way out of hand. It’s time to rein things in, and if you do you can improve the relationships that matter most.

I have a good friend who lives tied to his cell phone. His excuse is he wants to be available to his kids at all times, who are older and live away from home. But he answers the phone any and every time it rings no matter who is calling….even when we are out to dinner. What he is telling the people in his presence is they just don’t matter very much. It can be insulting; it certainly is rude.  And he is clueless.

There is an irony here that doesn’t escape me. The cell phone can keep you connected with your kids…. and that’s great. But the flip side of that coin is that it can take your attention away from them, unless you manage yourself carefully.

I suggest you set some house rules and make them apply to everyone. An easy place to start is no cell phones during dinner; no cell phones during family time, homework time, and drive time. I believe cell phones should be left in the kitchen during the night so they don’t interrupt sleep.

Remember, anytime your cell phone prevents you from having a live conversation with your teenager about anything, it is taking your attention away from what is most important.

By the way, you may enjoy the short video from the Today Show that initiated this thought… Here’s the link to the video.

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