Parenting

I'm Constantly On My Phone, And This Is Why

by HodgePodge Hippie
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Originally Published: 
JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty

Let’s face it…If you were to pass me on the street, you’d give me one look and think that I was a crappy mom. Such quick judgment for someone you’ve never met, right? I’m not oblivious. I see the looks, I feel the stares…yep, even when my face is looking down at my phone, I know you’re watching. Guess what? I’m watching you, too.

Maybe we are actually questioning each other for the same reasons. I’ll give you a hint about what I’m thinking when I’m watching you… “I wonder how she gets all her stuff done each and every day,” and most times, “Look at her, picking up her kid and she actually made it out of her pajamas for the day.” My thoughts towards you aren’t vindictive. They aren’t meant to challenge you and you’re parenting abilities. Can you say the same?

I’ll admit it. I’m not going to win the mother of the year anytime soon. I try my best every day, and every day ends up feeling as though something was failed on. I’ve accepted this in life, and I’m okay with that. Do I love to spend my day looking at my phone? Yes. Do you know why I spend my day looking at my phone? My guess is probably not.

I do it because it’s the lifeline of my family. We make money when I’m staring at my phone and answering emails and booking new clients. We can afford to pay our bills each and every time my messenger dings and I book another job. And most of all? I can afford to be in your presence just “staring” at my phone because I have the flexibility to do my job from wherever I want to.

If my children have learned anything from me, it’s that the sky is the limit to what we can do. I woke up one day and decided that I didn’t want to sit behind a desk anymore. I had no plans, no backup, nothing. I made the choice to make a choice — and I haven’t looked back.

Do my days feel like they never stop? Yes. Do I have the ability to set my own hours and be done working when I want? 100%. Have I for one moment regretted my decision? Absolutely not.

In our house, my children love electronics just as much as I do. Not for the reasons you may think though. There are no addiction or dependence issues in regards to them and their tablets; they simply love electronics because they know that it means I get to be home with them because of those electronics.

Even at the ages of 9 and 5, they get it. They don’t judge me when I have to send an email or take a quick call. They don’t give me looks when I’m working at random places throughout the day. They understand that it’s how mommy can be around all the time and understand that it couldn’t be done without the electronics helping us out.

So please, next time you see me staring at my phone, look on or pass me by. I’m not avoiding you, I’m just busy building an empire to ensure lifelong success and happiness for my family. If you need me, text me. I’m always on my phone anyway.

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