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Addicted to cell phone

whyme33's picture

i believe my SD10 is truly addicted to her phone. Her mom got her one when she was 4 and it’s all been downhill from there. I told DH back then this was a bad idea as obviously a 4 year old doesn’t need a cell phone. Now here we are and SD has a phone just as good as mine! 

SD does NOTHING but stare at the phone all day. We could be walking around stores and she’s staring down at it. Of course running into people and things while playing Games, YouTube, etc. Maybe a friend will call but that is rare.

Even walking around theme parks she has it in hand like she’s a business woman expecting a work phone call lol. And now today, DH took phone away (For the first time!) as punishment. She is shaking and tapping her legs and fingers on the couch like some drug addict going through recovery. Also crying hysterically. Wow. 

But DH said it would be mean to take it away when she’s over here. That it doesn’t need to go that far. Anyone else have a zombie at their house???

 

Comments

Chmmy's picture

SS would behave that way if he didnt get what he wanted. I put a stop to that when I take the stuff away it is gone until I feel like getting it back. They know the fukin drama isnt gonna sway me. They wouldnt consider acting that way when Im around. I will turn off wifi to the entire house when they piss me off. Guess what they tiptoe around me and dont piss me off

Jcksjj's picture

Yes. Shes addicted to her tablet. I'm ALMOST concerned about it, but not to the extent that I'm going to do anything about it. Honestly the only reason I made it through the summer with her here is because shes mostly quiet and out of the way when shes on it.

If it was one of my kids on the other hand, they would be going through an electronic fast and then having limited screen time.

whyme33's picture

Her mom said she was tired of her asking for it all the time to play on it so she went and got her one. So I’ve been dealing with this for 6 years now but now it’s bad. She can’t function without it in her hand. 

Missnyc's picture

the best and common phrase I read from here is can’t care more than the parents. I had similar issue and DH didn’t care. But I’m not going to let DD have a phone or have screen time until she’s older. 

Chmmy's picture

BM has something wrong with her and should do some research on brain development in children

STaround's picture

Dad should have taken the phone away years ago.  Two crazy parents.

Cover1W's picture

OSD was addicted to devices as soon as she got her first one. I told DH many times about limits but he never did anything. BM allowed it too...I think she tried to set limits but OSD always gets what she wants.

I just stayedvout of it. My only rule was if she was in the front seat of my car, no device allowed.

Felicity0224's picture

Oh good lord. A phone at 4?!? I’m sure she is addicted, probably in the clinical sense. There is tons of info out there on how damaging screen time is to kids and how it hinders development. Your BM sounds even dumber and lazier than ours. Truthfully your SD isn’t the one at fault here. Boundaries should have been established a long time ago, and since they weren’t, she’ll have withdrawals from the dopamine she gets from the phone. It’s heartbreaking when you think about it.

My oldest SD wasn’t addicted, but super attached to her phone for about a year after she got it. We never have allowed either of them to have phones, or any smart device, at our house. For a while she would have huge meltdowns on our weeks because she couldn’t bear to go without the phone that long. Now I guess she’s accepted that we won’t change our minds, because she doesn’t even mention it.

My DD (she’s 6) is pretty much screen free, except for a couple of hours of tv on the weekends. She’s a much happier and active kid than many of her peers. We have friends whose kids “must” have an iPad in front of them in the car or at restaurants, lest they make a fuss. Meanwhile DD went to dinner with me and my in-laws at an art museum last night and carried on a conversation over dinner, enjoyed looking at the art, and danced to the live jazz band. She would have missed all that with a screen in front of her face. It blows my mind that parents can’t see how much they deprive their kids of experiences by giving them these devices. 

whyme33's picture

Yes it was very sad. In fact I even said that to DH when it was happening. I said look at her, this is sad! He’s an enabler with her though so she can do no wrong. SD would have no idea what to do at a function like that, she’s clearly said she would rather be home indoors than out and about. She’s overweight and gets tired very easily which is also another subject lol. She’s been on medication for diabetes now for about a year.