"My young daughter and I had the pleasure of spending three months with my parents while my husband was deployed. We had a lovely visit, but over the course of our stay, I noticed my parents were spending more time on their phones than previously. Both are retired and in their mid-60s. I'm glad they are keeping up with technology, but I'm also concerned that their phone use may have a negative impact on their social health, behavioral health and mental acuity as they age."
"But if you think the day has arrived for you to parent your parents, forget about it. It not only won't work, but it could also cause resentment because they are adults and not impressionable teenagers being educated about social interaction. DEAR ABBY: My college roommate and I used to be close friends. I always thought he was a little bit arrogant. When I caught him getting upset that a girl liked me and not him,"
A woman returned to her retired parents' home with her young daughter and observed increased phone use, including at the dinner table, which contrasts with the screen-limited upbringing she experienced. She worries that constant phone engagement could harm her parents' social interaction, behavior, and cognitive health as they age and seeks a way to encourage reduced phone usage without causing conflict. The response advises against attempting to parent grown parents, warning that directing their behavior will likely fail and breed resentment, because they have autonomy and are not impressionable teenagers. A separate correspondent recounts a former college friend whose competitiveness blurred their friendship.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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