Cellphones affect both children and parents
New York City is on the verge of banning cellphones in schools because too many students are addicted to their screens. Several Long Island school districts are suing social-media companies, saying that kids’ phone use is causing record levels of mental illness.
But phones are doing damage to us parents, as well: The relentless connection to our kids may be driving our own anxiety sky-high.
A 2022 Harvard study found that 18% of teens were suffering from anxiety . . . as were 20% of mothers and 15% of fathers.
Of course, parents have always worried. That’s basically the job description.
But until about 15 years ago, we had no option but to learn to deal.
Today? Even though the murder rate is lower now than it was in the 1970s, ’80 and ’90s when many of today’s parents were children, kid trackers have become a $100 billion market, promising parents peace of mind.
As if! You want peace of mind? Get a time machine.
Somehow, way back when my mom let me walk to school as a kindergartener — I know, call the cops — she could wait till 3 p.m. to see me again.
No texts. No tracking.
In that way, she, like most other parents back then, learned to believe in me, in our neighbors and even in her own parenting. All were good enough to keep me safe.
Imagine how great that would feel: Trusting that all was well . . . because you didn’t have a choice.
The thing is: Trust is a muscle. It has to be exercised to get strong.
My mom’s trust muscle grew because it got daily exercise, thanks to the social norms of the time.
Mobile phones stop that growth from happening.
Instead of getting accustomed to being out of touch for a while, phones have us seeking — and getting — addictive hits…
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