Family time is classic everyone-sitting-looking-at-their-own-device-with-the-TV-on-in-the-backgroud time. Eventually, someone turns off the background noise machine. Then the silence is punctuated by someone breaking out in laughter, then immediately holding up their device to show the others the funny post or clip.
For some reason, your parents find out about the latest funny thing a looooong time after it was a hit. You'll be sitting flipping through The Hafiz Game and, just as the characters are on the brink of deciphering the next verse, Mama laughs suddenly and holds her phone out in your direction. "Look at this, you have to look at this now!" I'll look at it and go, "This is that one with the laughing quadruplets?" or "Don't tell me you haven't seen 'Charlie bit my finger' yet." Mama's way of answering is, "No, this is the remix." (For the record, the videos that have views in the millions usually do have remixes and spinoffs.)
We do talk when we're all sitting tapping away on our touch screens, but we frequently break off the conversation to check whatever pops up on our screens. When I want to show someone extra attention, I make a show of closing the laptop and folding my arms over it, leaning forward with the I'm-all-ears look. Sometimes this tactic backfires. "You don't need to do that, just listen to me!" or "I don't need THAT much attention." Go figure!
Do you have gadget-associated family time or is it a big no-no in your home? Tomorrow's no-no, er, I mean, chapter is going to be about the weekend.
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Infinite Ink
Non-FictionHello, dear reader. Welcome to my story. Please, have a drink. Here are some chips and a cushion. Comfortable? Good. Let's get to know each other.
