Gameboy Nation

Yesterday, being Mother's Day restaurants were booked solid. Having forgotten this most special of occasions I found myself in a restaurant smack dab in the middle of multiple families toasting Mom. What I couldn't help but notice to the right of me was what appeared to be a normal family unit: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and 2 kids. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best, including Gameboys. Both children, a boy and girl, 10 and 11 years of age respectively sat through the whole meal playing with their Gameboys. To say I was appalled is an understatement. I mean you get all dressed up, gather up the whole family, go to a nice restaurant and instead of catching up on the joys and quirks of life you play with your Gameboy?

My father would never have allowed that, ever. I speak as one who spent many, many meals with my nose pressed against the glass of the car window, wishing I would learn to listen to my first warning. Now kids will be kids, and if parents don't insist that they socialize with their Grandparents and themselves they will happily play Gameboy until they forget how to shower and spell. Watching these two kids, who in my opinion are more than old enought to be forced to hang out with their families in the same civilized way the rest of us were at special occasions, I began to wonder when it became easier for parents to just let their kids zone out with their toys then to teach them to interact.

Photo from here