What the Phone?

While sitting in a cozy wait room prior to an appointment, I saw a young child with their mother glancing around the space.

Typically when I arrive in a sedentary space with strangers or alone, my phone appears in my hands to occupy my mind for a few minutes before the session.

Today was different, though, because today I decided to be mindful and sit with limited distractions. As I scanned the space, I noticed that although the small human was technology free, the mother was not.

Suddenly I found my brain analyzing the dynamic, not from a judgemental point of view, but from a curious one. The mother was incredibly immersed in the device, while her kiddo was taking in the scenery.

It was a short while after that they were called by the clinician for their scheduled time and a few moments prior the mother had reached out to touch her child’s hair, but eyes still glued to the small screen.

When called, the mother’s attention jumped back into the space, she became animated in her expression and so did the boy. His look of wonder turned to joy and the adult turned from a blank stare to an engaged smile.

What Happened Next?

I took the opportunity to reflect. I’d been having an incredibly rough day and remembered how important it was for me to gain presence during those…