The magic of taking kids to the grocery store
Well, one of them at a time, anyway.
I’ll admit: there is one screen-related sight that’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. I know it’s not polite or charitable to admit to it, but here it is: when I see kids staring at a phone in the grocery store cart, it makes me want to scream.
I know! I’m sorry! I cringe just typing those words, and promise I’m not a particularly judge-y person1.
Yes, I generally do try and keep my personal phone use to a minimum, and I don’t often hand over my phone to my own children. But, when out and about, I also generally keep my thoughts to myself and try to empathetically imagine why someone else might have chosen differently. Maybe she’s having a really hard day! Maybe his kid is neurodivergent! Maybe maybe maybe…!
But as opposed to, say, a sibling’s piano recital or a hushed courtroom, the grocery store has SO much to recommend it as a phone-free zone, and it pains me to see it not being fully recognized or utilized as the delightful, teachable opportunity it can be.