Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/from-a-parents-perspective-phone-quiet-time/5012735/
- Situation -I want a few uninterrupted minutes on the phone. As surely as the sun rises and sets or tides come and go, my child is hungry, thirsty, or in dire need as soon as my ear touches the telephone. Even if I secreted the phone in the closet, my daughter would find me, crawling over shoes, coats, and hangers to reach my lap. Whether the call is work related, a chat with a friend, or a sales pitch, her clamor is constant. Am I ever going to get to talk on the phone again?
- Solution -
The phone engulfs your attention, a commodity not willingly relinquished. The behaviors you describe are meant to reclaim your notice. We do want to give our children attention. The trick is to do so in ways that are appropriate. The key is to connect, charm, and collaborate.
Connect
The most basic way to connect is through touch. When your little one begins to tug at your leg, grab for the phone, or demand something to eat "Right now!," calmly reach down and curl your arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle hug. This might be accompanied by a special signal such as raising your ...