Self

How My Smartphone Makes Me A Better Mom

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You see that mom on the bench at the playground with iPhone three inches from her nose? The one who glances up every 67 seconds to locate her kids before going back to her phone?

Yeah, that's me.

I used to feel guilty about spending time on my phone when my kids are around. I worried I was ignoring my kids and missing important moments of their childhood. I’m supposed to be savoring every moment – gazing at my kids’ every move in constant, wide-eyed wonder. Instead I'm wasting these precious hours by burying my face in a gadget.

But you know what? I've decided it's not such a bad thing that I spend a lot of time on my phone. I don’t think my electronic best friend is stealing my babies' childhood. If anything, it's making me a better parent — at least most of the time. Here's why.

1. It teaches me about parenting.
I don't think you should turn to experts every time you'e struggling with a parenting issue. Most of the time, the best thing you can do is listen to your own kids and your own instincts. But every once in a while, when you've tried everything you can think of and nothing seems to work, a suggestion from the outside world can work wonders. I've learned hundreds of creative parenting strategies online that have helped me with everything from discipline to sleep. And sometimes, being able to look up ideas on my phone when I'm in the throes of parenting is a lifesaver for my sanity.

Read more at Momtastic: 5 Ways My Smartphone Makes Me a Better Parent

Photo: weheartit.com

 

This article was originally published at Momtastic. Reprinted with permission from the author.