Why do so many women ignore their kids in favor of their cell phones?

Question

Time after time, I will see a mother walking with her little kids. She will be talking on her cell phone and ignoring her kids. Why not take this time to talk and bond with her offspring instead of prattling on the phone?

Answer 1

you should ask in newborn and baby...

Answer 2

Welcome to 21th century. dear

Answer 3

I agree with what sunshine said.

Treat children like human beings and not "annoyances" and they will treat you with the same level of respect(most of the time).

  

Answer 4

Who did you say where walking with the kids? Oh, right, the MOTHER. Forget that the father wasn't even there...

It is never ok to ignore your children, but it is perfectly ok to answer your phone.

You sound like you dont like women very much, you are obviously biased

Answer 5

I guess they'd rather chat with their friends than pay attention to their kids.  I saw a trailer for "Get Smart" with a pretty funny bit about this.

p.s.  Touche, Shell.

Answer 6

That's a good question. I find it irritating. I think that woman who have kids that didn't plan to have them just seem to think of them as a annoyance. Let me say that not ALL moms that have unexpected pregnancies are like this. But some are. I would love to have kids and would love to spend all the time i could with them. I guess maybe they just don't realize what they have.

Answer 7

Everyone I see is on a cell phone.  And yes, I have seen people on their cells instead of being with their kids...on the other hand, the older kids are all on their cell phones.  You can probably tell I am not a big cell phone fan.  I do have one...but you will not see me on it in public unless its a crucial call and a very short one.

This is not to put down anyone else who uses cell phones...I know they are cool and the thing to do, it's just how I feel about it.

Answer 8

I hate cell-phones, and phones, in general, really. you won't catch me on the phone "ignoring" my kid unless hubby's calling to let me know he's on his way home, or having my requisite monthly call with my mother (if the MIL calls, I let it ring). If my friends or other family members call, I keep it very brief.

But, I've noticed that all of your "parenting" questions are directed toward women only...do you never see fathers with their children? Or is there never cause for criticizing fathers?

Answer 9

The only cell phone I have is in my glove box for emergencies. Our family walks are bonding time. You will never get the years with your children back. Nothing else is as important for a mother or father as their child. After all they will pick my nursing home.

Answer 10

b/c. not every minute of every day is supposed to be about 'bonding' with your kid. as a parent, you spend so much time with ur kids, sometimes you just need some time with people ur age

Answer 11

At least the mother is with her kids.

The same can't be said for the father; where did he disappear off to?

Answer 12

I have got 5 youngsters, 2 off to college, 1 on the verge of being engaged and I have never owned, nor do I want a cellphone.  I hate those things!

Answer 13

Well if she's stuck with them all day who cares about quality time....it's quantity! better for the kids remember (rolling eyes)

Answer 14

And we as the parents of disobedient, spoiled, and unmindful children wonder why it is the case. This annoys me too. Even if I am talking on the phone for whatever reason (family happens to live cross country), and my children want my attention, I immediately respond to them and ask them to hold on a second until I am finished on the phone. And when I am done I then ask them what they wanted to tell me, I try my hardest to not forget about their desiring my attention! I remember my mom telling me a story she was told by a friend who was observing an incident on a train ride. I guess one family had two kids and the kids were well behaved the parents were chatting with them, so on. The family next to them had unruly, annoying children where the mother asked the mother of the well behaved kids how she got them so well behaved, etc. While the mothers were talking, one of the annoying children kept asking his mother about something and the mother responded, ready?? Shut up, I'm trying to talk!! And there it was, why would a child show the respect of listening to his/her parents when the parents don't show the same respect back? After all, children are still human beings!

And to reference that trailer spoken of prior, my husband and I are always making fun of it by doing the same thing back to our kids (repeating their names over and over again), but of course we do answer them seriously after wards!

Answer 15

That's right!! Women should give undivided attention to their kids 150% of the time! They mustn't have communication with others EVER, b/c their dear children will feel abandoned, and have developmental issues that will continue into adulthood. Phone calls to the children's doctor should be made telepathically as should anything to do with the children's education!!

Phone calls to friends should be reported to child safety, because heaven forbid the mother has a life outside of the children!

Fathers on the other hand, should spend all their time away from their children, and instead spend it at the local bar and golf club. If they were to spend any time with their children, their children will surely become spoilt little brats, and it will scar them FOR LIFE!

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You think that the 30 seconds you witness between a mother and child gives you a valid reason to criticise? Like other's have said: where's the father?

Answer 16

"prattling on the phone"

Of course this is an expression meaning that the phone calls of women are of no importance.  

You see a woman on the phone while her children and she are walking...where is dad, we do not know...maybe on the other end of the phone "prattling".  Or perhaps mom is talking to the child's doctor about a medical problem, or has received a call about a critically ill relative.  Or maybe she is a doctor and instead of taking am emergency call and running to the office, she is telling the hospital what to do on the phone so she does not have to miss this time with her children.

You really do not know why she is on the phone, nor that she is ignoring the children since women have a talent for being able to multi-task.

It seems to me that a lot of assumptions had to be made in order to come up with this question, which is really quite petty and small.

Answer 17

Dad's do the same thing- Only they play video games or watch football. I guess the same question could be ask of them.