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Modern Families Connection Lost?

Filed Under: BLOG, Kids Posts, Life in General, Lily, parenting two kids, Technology, TV Shows Tagged With: , , ,

A recent conversation, that I had with my daughter’s pre-school teacher, was very enlightening. It brought a whole new meaning to what modern families truly look like.

However the important thing is that she is indeed blossoming. Plus she is right on track if not above average for her age with what she should know.

However, when asked if she knew her home phone number, her response is sadly true and very telling.

What was her answer? 

“My mommy hasn’t taught that to me, but I know her iPhone number”

Modern Families Connection Lost

Hands raised high. See I am guilty of not sharing our home phone number with my 4 year old. Why? Because although I pay for our landline telephone, I am not sure the last time I used it to make an actual call.

I have an iPhone 6 Plus, as well. If it were a choice between my landline or my iPhone, the iPhone would win hands down.

I also own an Apple iPad and MacBook Pro 15 with Retina Display to round out the trifecta of IOS devices that I use daily.

But I digress and back to the case at point.

So why haven’t I shared our landline telephone with my 4 year old?

Young kids are supposed to know where they live. They should also know their home phone number. Both should be learned in case of any unforeseen emergency.

Again, I won’t argue that.

But most will not reach me at my home number. Because once again my iPhone is my go-to device. I use it 24-7 at all hours of the day for everything you could imagine. So again,  I haven’t divulged our home number to my 4 year old.

Seems the norm for modern families…

See judging from most of my family and friends, I would say that I am not in minority. Because technology and devices like the iPhone took over where our traditional lines of communication. They easily replaced landline phones and so much more. This includes replacing notepad paper for writing notes, sending e-mails instead of letter/snail mail correspondence or using Facebook to keeping up with family, friends and even the casual acquaintance’s whereabouts.

If I wasn’t convinced before, then I recently viewed an episode of ABC’s hit show, Modern Family.

Why’d this convince me? Because they filmed an entire episode using Apple iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.

The episode, according to Buzzfeed, consisted entirely of a series of FaceTime chats between Claire (Julie Bowen), who is sitting in an airport in Chicago, and the rest of her family members, who are in their respective houses in Los Angeles. Claire also uses her computer to simultaneously track down her eldest daughter, Haley (Sarah Hyland), who no one has heard from since the day before. The Dunphy matriarch is able to log into Facebook, search the internet, shop online, and read her emails, all while chatting with her husband, Phil (Ty Burrell), her brother, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and her father, Jay (Ed O’Neill), with other family members coming in and out of the screen.

What intrigued me about this Modern Family episode?

The fact that it showcased just how a “Modern Family” communicates. It also showed how much all in modern families use technology throughout the course of their normal daily routines.

Just like the mom (Claire) in the show, I have used all three of my Apple devices to do all of the above activities that she performed during the course of that one day the episode depicted, seamlessly and effortlessly.

[clickToTweet tweet=”We don’t just use technology; we live technology @ModernFam #modernfamily” quote=”We don’t just use technology; we live technology @ModernFam #modernfamily” theme=”style1″]

As shared above my 4 year old knows how to use these devices just as easily. She can also perform a Face-time call with my iPhone and iPad. Plus she even knows the number to reach me at 24-7. But doesn’t know her own home phone number.

So what is the the take away from all of this for modern families?

That technology is the norm nowadays for most modern families, kids and moms included.

Sharing is caring!

About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Kim says

    I’m always startled when our landline rings – like you we just pay the service but rarely use it. And, learning phone numbers is becoming a thing of the past – I’m lucky to remember my own. I don’t even know Chris’ work # – it is just programmed into my iPhone!!!

    • Janine says

      Kim, I have kept the landline phone, because it is sadly still cheaper to have it in a package deal with Verizon FIOs (for cable, internet and phone) then without it. But still I barely use if at all and when I do I am on it for less then 5 minutes if best.

  3. Bev says

    Um, we don’t even have a landline! We probably should get one for emergencies, even if we never use it. We do live in a very technological age. I haven’t let Eve use my phone or tablet yet, but she does someone know how to turn my phone on!

    • Janine says

      Bev, when we had Hurricane Sandy (which was a true emergency), our landline didn’t work at all. Our cell phones did afterwards, but only if you left the house in certain spots. So, my iPhone still one upped the landline then, too.

  6. Kathy Radigan says

    I love this!!!! I’m still a bit old school, I love my landline and have no plans to get rid of it. But as the mom of a 16 year old I do know the importance and life sustaining effect of an iPhone. Apparently a teen can not breath unless it’s attached to their head!! Lol! Great pice!

  8. Ginny Marie says

    We are working with our preschool students on their addresses right now. Later this year we’ll talk about calling 911 and how important it is to know your address to tell the 911 operators. We also ask parent which phone number they want us to teach their kids. I think it’s great that she knows your iPhone number! We have to teach the kids their area code, too, because there are so many phone numbers in the Chicagoland area that we always have to dial the area code. Is it that way in the part of New York that you live, or does she just have to know a 7-digit number? Just curious!

    • Janine says

      Here, she doesn’t really need the area code unless she is in a different county, but for the most part she only needs the 7 digits. But love that you are teaching your kids their addresses and numbers, too!

  10. Seana Turner says

    No doubt about it… technology has changed the way we interact and relate. Not sure it is for the better, though there are certainly some terrific benefits. Only time will tell what the long-term impact will be. For what its worth, my older daughter never hand a land line after leaving home. The newer college dorms are not even wired for phones anymore.

  11. Allie says

    Your post makes me feel like a dinosaur. My husband is a Microsoft/IBM guy, so Apple is banned from our house (although we have an iPad tat Santa brought my son with autism). I love our land line and almost use it exclusively in the house. I don’t like walking around with my cell (tumor fear? maybe) and I don’t like business transactions on the cell either. If I’m calling the insurance company or bank – it’s on the land line. I have recently gone a few Google hangouts, which I think is like Facetime – and it was cool.

  12. Kenya G. Johnson says

    We don’t even have a landline anymore and Christopher doesn’t have his own phone. It does make me worry a bit but he has my iPhone password and if he doesn’t use it he knows how to bypass it and call 911 and he’s not yet staying home by himself. When that time comes and we are leaving him behind or he is arriving home with no one here then we will obviously get him a phone. Until then he has ALL of our devices. I haven’t watched the most recent eps of Modern family so I don’t know if that’s the one you are talking about but it sounds familiar.

    • Janine says

      Kenya, the episode aired Wednesday night and if you haven’t seen it, you need to watch it, because I know you are similar to me with your iPhone and iPad and would definitely get/appreciate it. If you do watch it, let me know what you thought if you can.

  16. Amanda @ Growing Up Madison says

    Know what Janine, I’m right along with you but I don’t have a landline so my kids have learned to memorize my phone number and you know how often that gets changed. They also all know where we live, with the exception of Madison who’ll learn it as time goes on. My view is, as long as the child knows a number that a particular parent would usually answer (usually a cellphone) then you’re doing a good job.

    • Janine says

      Shannon, I know and I am also constantly learning something new like last week it was how to make all the apps appear at the bottom, so you can see your wallpaper pic better. I thought something was wrong with the iPad, but lo and behold, she totally taught me something new!

  20. Jack says

    My kids know all of the cellphone numbers for their parents and grandparents and our home address. I am less worried about the house line because the best way to reach most of us is via cell and ultimately that is what is important.

  22. Emily says

    I just watched that “Modern Family” episode last night (thank you DVR!) and I thought it was great and yes, truly depicted how modern families today communicate. BTW,’m jealous you just upgraded your laptop – I really need to!

    • Janine says

      Emily, I truly loved the episode and seriously so glad I wasn’t the only one who watched and thought that it was really just so indicative of how we do communicate as a family nowadays. And as for the MacBook, I have been eying the 15 inch for sometime and finally my 13 inch was just on its last leg. So, I caved and never been happier. Seriously, I am in love! 😉

  23. Rabia @TheLiebers says

    Now that you mention it, my kids know our home phone number, but not my cell phone number. I”m never home to answer the house phone, so FAT LOT OF GOOD IT DOES!! I guess I ought to work on teaching them my cell phone number instead.

  24. Kelly Suellentrop says

    I am always behind on this stuff. My kids think I am lame because I won’t get them iTouches, which apparently everyone else has. And I still prefer my landline over my cell phone. But like I said, I am kind of an 80 year old in a 37 year old body.

  25. Joy says

    My son knows our home phone number although I agree that in this modern age, it would probably be best for kids to know our mobile numbers given that we’re always up and about anyway. And btw, I LOVED LOVED LOVED that Modern Family episode! It was pure brilliance!!!

  27. April G says

    I haven’t had a home phone in years. Verizon made it impossible for me to just get basic service before I moved, so basic service was $80 a month for a phone I didn’t use. I’ve been hesitant to teach them any technology, but have been softening to it since it seems to be core these days. I heard a stat that said toddlers are the number one users of tablets.

    • Janine says

      Kristi, I would totally cancel it if my bill would actually go down. Sadly, the triple play is cheaper then doing just the two services (internet and cable) without the phone. Thanks, my friend! 😉

  32. Diane Roark says

    Janine,

    It has been a crazy day and I just now sitting down to share. I too have a 12 year old who does not know our home phone number. We only have a home phone number so that telephone marketers can call and bug us constantly. I am serious and maybe also to hook up our security system. If the phone rings, we know it is a not for us.
    Unfortunately, this is the same reason they are not teaching cursive writing in schools anymore. Not that is a shame. People need to know how to sign their name instead of putting an X.
    Thanks for sharing this funny, but oh so true story.
    Blessings,
    Diane Roark

  33. The Pinterested Parent says

    Honestly, we do not even have a land line. We haven’t for years. Technology is a gift & a curse. I am guilty of checking my phone to often. I get caught up in it & then go through the guilt after. I try not to work on my blog until after my daughter is in bed. I do want to separate my phone from my hip though.

  35. Dana says

    Gwen thinks it’s horrible that I don’t know her cell phone number. I should, but I never have to dial it – it’s on my phone! But for forms and things like that, you do need to know your number. I guess I should try to remember!

  38. Tara Newman says

    My voice mail at home says I never check messages here, call our cell #’s. Have you seen the Verizon device called the Gizmo for kids? We bought for our kids when we are out exploring or skiing. It’s a watch phone that allows just a few #;s to call in and out. I am not ready for everyone to have their own phones but that MF episode was hysterical!

  39. Stephanie @ Life, Unexpectedly says

    Times are changing, and I know quite some people who don’t even have a home phone any more. So it is a lot more sensible of you to teach your kids your cell phone number, no problem with that. While it does indeed annoy me a great deal, if people look at the phones all the time when talking to me (I nearly slapped some people who couldn’t be bothered to put down their phones while I held a training at work), the new technology, if used sensibly, actually lets us be closer together. You mentioned facetime, and there are still Skype, plain old email, etc. Having family living on a different continent, we are definitely thankful for modern communication!

    • Janine says

      Stephanie, I forgot about Skype and have used that, too here in the past. And even though most of my family is here in the same country, some are out of state, so are that I am just so thankful for modern communication for reasons like this, too 🙂

  40. Rea says

    We have a landline phone and we very rarely use it. I use it to call offices that have landline numbers but for the most part, I also use my mobile phone for communication and the computer too. Communication has truly evolved over the years and it changed how we live our lives. It makes much more sense to reach parents using their best phone number anyway.. 🙂

  41. Aunt Gloria says

    I use the cell phone exclusively when I am in FL and it’s no problem. Like you, I have the landline at home because it’s a better deal from the cable company. And I do use it. But it makes sense that the girls know your iPhone number because you always have that with you. Good for Lily! She’s a smart cookie! Have a good weekend in spite of the weather forecast for more snow…..enough! xxoo

  42. Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

    I’m the opposite… my oldest daughter knows the land line and not my cell phone. My iPhone is, for the most part, off limits to them but they do occasionally get to access their Dad’s. Although this made me think that maybe I should teach them the cell phone number too. Although I rarely have the ringer to my phone on. I have it on silent because the beckoning call of a ring or beep would be distracting me all the time. LOL

    Thanks for sharing.
    xoxo

  43. Leah says

    We have a landline , with voicemail on it. However, sometimes it can be at least a week before I check my home voicemail (who is even calling it???) I always figure that if it’s important enough they will have my mobile. However, last year, Zach had hurt his fingers and we had been to the ER. The doctor told me he thought everything was fine , but the radiologist had to double check. They sent us home saying they would call if there was a problem… 3 days later I check our home phone and guess what? The ER had called, there was a problem and they needed us to return. Uh oh. I felt like the world’s worst Mom. You would think the moral of the story was that I check my home phone more frequently? For a while I did….

    • Janine says

      Leah, I would have died if that happened and thank god we do have a little red button that blinks on the handset. So, I do glance at it every so often during the day, but still I definitely don’t answer it usually or even listen for it to be honest as I said here.

  44. Eli@coachdaddy says

    Knowing how to do things on a smartphone isn’t a bad thing for kids. Mine know what I’ve shown them, and a million more things that I don’t know about. This is just how we communicate now. I get Elise’s breakfast order by text; it’s efficient. It’s like using a microwave or cruise control. It’s technology you have, so use it!

    The issue I have with devices is when they become a barrier, not a connection, between people. Snapchat shouldn’t matter during dinner. Twitter will be there after we finish a movie together. But when we know an actor on a movie and can’t remember what she’s been in, it’s nice to have someone on the IMDB to find out!

    • Janine says

      Eli, I love that you get breakfast texted to you! But seriously, I am so with you on the connection issue. Oh and I love IMDB, too – use it more often then not when I can’t figure out an actress or actor in a movie or TV show.

  46. Chris Carter says

    LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Janine, we actually got RID OF our landline!! We never ever used it!! This is just so true and honestly? Life essentially is IS so much easier through our new tech world we live in!!

    • Janine says

      Chris, thank you for telling me that and again as much as we have a landline, as I said we also don’t use it. And you are totally right about life being that much easier. Hugs and thank you again 😉

  47. Tamara says

    We don’t even have a land line! We haven’t since San Francisco. I was at my friend’s house last week and her land line started ringing and I was like, “What an old-fashioned sound!”

  48. Melissa @ Home on Deranged says

    This post felt like a gut punch – in a good way. It’s so, so true. When my kids need attention, I’m more likely to hear, “Put down your phone!” before anything else. They know how all the techy gadgets in our house work. It never occurred to me to teach them my phone number. We don’t even have a landline, which kind of makes me sad. But so many changes you just have to roll with, right?

  50. Jhanis says

    An eye opener! We do not have a landline but my kids knows how to use smart phones and can call me when I’m at work. I need to make my son memorize my mobile number “just in case!”.

  51. Alison says

    My 5 year old doesn’t know any of our phone numbers, but he knows the passcode to our electronic lock on our front door! There is no escaping technology, might as well embrace it.

  52. Jeannine says

    OH, yes. We haven’t even had a land line for YEARS. In fact, when my husband and I got married, we each only had our cell phones. We had no need for a land line until his oldest (she was 6 when we married) started getting phone calls from her friends on my cell phone. I found that very annoying, so we did get a landline for maybe 2 years at the most, until she got her own cell phone (from her mom who was out of state and wanted to be able to reach her at any time). Now that our next daughter is reaching that age, we did decide to get a “home phone,” but it’s actually another cell phone! It was SO MUCH CHEAPER to just add another line onto our cell phone plan and call it “the home phone.” Since I have used my cell # as our “home phone number” for so many years, that’s the number the kids know. And it really does make more sense for them to know my cell # than anything else, because I always have it on me or nearby.
    I would LOVE to see that episode of Modern Family, it sounds interesting. I love that show, but rarely have a chance to watch it.

    • Janine says

      Jeannine, I never would have thought to add another cell as a home number, but that is pretty clever and does totally make sense to me. Hope you get to see that Modern Family episode and do think you would very much enjoy it if and when you did.

  53. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    This is so true! When I had my first child, I didn’t even have a cell phone…they really weren’t as prevalent then. So all my kids did learn our home phone number. But if I were to have children again now, I don’t doubt that they would learn my cell phone number over the home phone. Like you, we don’t use the home phone hardly at all. The only person that calls us on it is my mother in law. The rest is telemarketers, sad to say.

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