Setting the standard being the example, parents complain so much that their kids are on the cell phones, that they text too much and spend way too much time in front of the computer.  If you’re a parent with any of these concerns or complaints, it may be time to press the pause button and ask yourself:  “What behavior am I modeling?”

What you do speaks volumes, that can shine light on generation rude . Are you constantly looking at your phone when your child is trying to communicate with you? Or are you making eye contact with them? Do you hear what they are saying or is the FB feed more important than what your kids are saying? Do you text when they talk to you? The same respect that you demand from your child should be the same respect that you are dishing out.

If you think not … would  you like someone to be texting when you talk to them? Would you want someone to have a faint glow of the computer screen on their eyes, as you attempt to tell them something that you think is important? In a generation of media, we parents have become hypocrites.

We say “do this kids” and right in front of them we do the opposite. As parents we find our social media lives far more important than what’s in front of us. I’m not speaking for all parents but alot of us and I included myself in this, have done this or are doing it.

What better way for us to tear our family apart by putting social media before family. If your kid is texting too much, if your kid is on the computer too much maybe it’s because you are, and they are just doing what mommy and daddy are doing. Stop and think about your priorities, before you blame your child for not having their priorities straight.

The order is Family – work – then everything else, (social media for example). However, if your job requires you to be using social media outlets for business, then don’t bring work home.  Demonstrate self-control because feeding your appetite for attention or being in the know takes parents away from kids.  It also turns the family dynamic into children who have to compete for your attention with something far more interesting at times then hearing about what happened at school. That is unfair to your kids and they become semi-orphans who are getting yelled at for getting attention from somewhere else.

As parents the dividing line for what is important and what can wait may get blurred because of the monotony of the everyday family life. However the seed that is your child is growing and although we don’t notice it every day who that child is becoming is making its way to the surface. With proper lighting (eyes watching) and water (nurturing and nourishment) you child can grow into a healthy part of society that has core values of what is important and that is family.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Bobbie Borras

Bobbie Borras is an Editor at Parentingtodayskids.com and is very passionate about protecting kids online. Bobbie refined her online safety expertise through her work at SpectorSoft, the leader in child online safety and monitoring. As a single mother, she understands the importance of paying attention to what children do online in order to protect them. Bobbie ensures that the Parentingtodayskids.com’s content is up to date, by spending lot of time each day tackling tough issues, related to kids and technology. The issues that you need to know as a parent. In addition, Bobbie has years of hands-on experience mentoring to teen girls through her involvement with Calvary Chapel Student Ministry Program. Bobbie is currently pursing a B.C.M. at Victory University.

Tags: generation, Raising teens, Rude people, social media for young kids