I believe that when it comes to the homefront, parents are allowed to run it as they see fit. Because if they’re not careful, everything will go wrong right before their eyes, and they won’t be able to do anything about it. Which is why when it comes to family, especially with kids, it’s always best to stand on business. You can be flexible when you need to, but also know that you must be rigid when it’s needed. If not, nothing you say will be taken seriously.
And this is important because people will only treat you in the way they believe you should be treated. And they come to that decision, based on how they’ve seen you portray yourself. Not necessarily the things you say. If they think you’re a no-nonsense person, they’ll treat you as such and take you seriously. But if they see you as someone who says one thing and does something else, the disrespect will be loud.
And, on the topic, do I feel this is a good idea? Yeah! The way people have become so reliant on their phones these days is alarming. When we’re washing, we’re watching videos on social media. We’re on our phones when eating, working, watching movies… we’re trying to divide our attention, and we’re increasingly finding it difficult to focus on only one thing at a time. Which is why we just have to do multiple things at once.
Banning phones for specific moments of the day would be a welcome development because people will finally find a moment to be grounded and actually talk to each other, so that they can know what is going on in their lives. A family where all the members are always on their phones doing one thing or the other. If everyone watches movies only on their phones and tablets, who then will watch on the family TV? If everyone can eat in their rooms for quiet and privacy while they also use their phones, what’s the point of having a dining room?
I just feel that you have to be strategic about what you want out of life and out of your family. And whatever rules you’re making, just ensure that you also follow them to the letter as well, because that is what will make everyone else follow you. You may think that just because you’re the man of the house, you can make rules and break them, but that only shows your kids the kind of person you are and warns them of your hypocrisy.
So, in the end, it’s just best that we do what works for our families. Because what works for Family A may not work for Family B, and that’s just how it goes. So, decide what you want, and stick to it. Don’t only be good for making rules, be good for sticking to them as well, no matter what. Because that’s how discipline and manners are instilled in kids. We have to do what we can on the homefront to ensure our kids turn out well.
