What are we teaching about cellphone use?

Every school day morning, I see parents both driving and walking their children to school oblivious to the children because they are engrossed in their cellphones, either checking texts and emails or carrying on a conversation with someone. Parents, what are you teaching your children?

Not only are you teaching them that it is OK to break the law - there are laws prohibiting use of cellphones while driving and while in proximity to a school - but also and most important, you are showing them that something or someone is more important to you than they are. Children learn by what they see.

If in your heart of hearts you know that your children are more important to you than anything else in the world, let your cellphone be "anything else in the world." Put it away. Talk to them while you are driving. Hold your child's hand while you walk them to the door. Give them a hug and a kiss. Look into their eyes and tell them to have a happy day. You will be waiting to hear all about it. Let them know that they and their thoughts and feelings matter to you more than anything else.

Would you believe someone who says to you "I love you" while their eyes are focused on a cellphone screen and not on you? Neither will your children. And they will carry that belief with them through their growing up years.

Stephanie Heavey

Palatine