In November 2015, a young mom from Lakeside, California, did something simple yet poignant.
Brandie Wood, mom to twin boys Blaine and Rylie, decided to conduct a little experiment in the comfort of her own home — and she uncovered a sad but common truth about the role of technology that exists within the family dynamic.
Brandie took to Facebook to share the results of her experiment, and her post went massively viral.
“Today I did an experiment, I watched my boys play,” she writes. “As I sat quietly in the corner of the room I tallied how many times they looked at me for various reasons: to see if I saw their cool tricks, to seek approval or disapproval for what they were doing, and to watch my reactions.”
Scroll down to see what Brandie realized when she looked at the total tally card…
With easy access to all sorts of technology, children and young people can become so engrossed in their gadgets that they lose focus on the more important aspects of life and learning.
But parents can also become addicted to their phones and computers.
In 2015, Brandie Wood from California decided to try a simple at-home experiment. Then, she posted the eye-opening results on Facebook.
She wrote:
Today I did an experiment, I watched my boys play. As I sat quietly in the corner of the room I tallied how many times they looked at me for various reasons: to see if I saw their cool tricks, to seek approval or disapproval for what they were doing, and to watch my reactions.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I was on some sort of technology what message would I have been sending?
28 times my angels would have wondered if the World Wide Web was more important than them. 28 times my boys would have not received the attention most adults are searching for.
28 times my loves would have questioned if they were alone emotionally. 28 times my kids would have been reassured that who you are online is what really matters.
In a world where we are accepted as who people perceive us to be and not who we really are, in a world where validation comes from how many followers or likes we have, in a world where quality time with loved ones is being replaced by isolation and text messages from the other room, I beg you to be different.
Please put down your technology and spend some time with your family and loved ones.
The next generation of children is counting on us to teach them how to be adults, don’t be too busy on social media, you never know who is watching and what message you are sending.
Brandie’s powerful message went massively viral and was shared more than 70,000 times.
The thoughtful mom said she was happy her message had touched so many people far and wide.
“We as a people have the power to change things.”
“Just being aware will help tremendously,” Brandie told The Huffington Post.
“I am guilty of being connected to my phone as well.”
“This experience has completely humbled me to be more present.”
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