![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2016/09/Sibohavingfunat_14260.jpg)
Mum and I were at a Petersfield eatery having a milkshake.
We chose to sit outside so that I could investigate all the fun stuff to do – and let me tell you – there are plenty of fun stuff to do at the there.
Mum likes to watch me whilst I play.
But we have a rule that I have to come back every now and then and talk.
I also have to eat all my food.
Atually I quite like having my mum all to myself – so I spend more time at the table than I do in the playground.
I was slurping down my shake, chatting away, when I noticed a little kid who came in with her parental agent.
They sat down inside – far away from the play area.
The little girl looked at the slide longingly but sat down, good as gold.
A few minutes later the man took out his cellphone and kept it glued to his ear for quite a long time.
After a while the girl ventured outside and had a look around the play area – rather apprehensively.
Then she went back inside.
The man was on his phone again.
She fiddled with the sauce and stuff.
He carried on talking.
Their food came and he still chatted.
Part of the treat of going out somewhere is having the person talk to you – not someone else!
I see this quite a lot.
People go out and they spend more time looking at their cellphones than they do talking to the person that they are with.
Adults are the worst!
They order their kids food and seem to feel that is all that’s expected of them.
Their job is done, they can sit back and withdraw into their cellular worlds.
They don’t need to interact with their children other than to help then cut up their food.
Sometimes the kids spend the whole time in the play area and don’t even eat much of their food.
Most of us want you to watch us, we want to talk to you and we want to you listen to us – with your eyes and your ears.
You can’t do that if you are attached to your cellphone.
Put it away people!
Sibo