There’s a dangerous new relationship trend taking the internet by storm …
“Well, phub me! I had no idea what that was!” joked one fan.
“OMG, I’m guilty of this!” added another.
Originally, the trend was associated with a poor parenting style.
But it has since moved over into the realm of romantic relationships, too.
So much so that a doctor and health expert have warned we have to stop, now!
Scroll on to find out more.
Now, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as parenthood.
The love between you and your child is something unlike any other feeling on earth… It’s a pretty magical thing.
Although you try and do the best for your child…
Everyone has an opinion on what you’re doing wrong.
There are many things that make parenthood irritating…
But there’s one thing pretty much every parent out there can relate to, which is feeling like you’re not giving your kids the best.
And there are a whole host of controversial decisions to be made around parenting.
It’s safe to say, people have some pretty strong opinions…
Like, for example, how to split duties between parents…
With single parenting being even tougher!
And modern parents have even more stresses to go through.
Technology has made the already hard job of parenting even trickier — especially as kids grow older.
There’s another big issue for parents, these days.
The highly topical issue of helicopter parenting.
It can be tricky to toe the line between responsible and overprotective.
But it’s important to foster independence and trust in your kids, to risk a serious rebellion down the line.
It often all comes down to communication.
And making sure your kids feel they can come to you with their problems will always make things easier.
Respect is another pertinent issue when it comes to parenting.
As a lack of respect is really what most fights between parents and kids come down to.
Patience is also key.
As any parent will tell you, you need the patience of a saint on some days.
The feeling of inadequacy can also bring parents down.
But if you’re trying your best, rest assured — you’re being a top-level parent!
Trying to instill discipline is key.
But, let’s be honest — it’s not always possible! Sometimes kids just aren’t in the mood to be obedient.
There’s something else that can make parenting seem scary.
That feeling that there just isn’t enough time!
Not only do days rush past when you’re super busy taking care of a little one…
But you want to treasure the precious, fleeting moments of your child’s early days (and years).
Dealing with fear is another big issue of parenting.
With a world out there that feels vast and frightening, it can be tempting to wrap you child up in cotton wool.
But you need to allow your child to experience life for themselves!
So long as they always know they can rely on you to help them out in times of need!
A lot of good parenting actually relies on relinquishing of control.
Which is, as any parent knows, easier said than done.
But there is one major thing parents should avoid.
Earlier this year, parents have been warned about the dangers of ‘phubbing,’ or ‘phone snubbing.’
According to a recent survey, nearly 70% of parents are guilty of it.
Mary Alvord, PhD, co-author of ‘Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens’ tells Very Well Mind: “I think the big question here is… are parents giving undivided attention when their kids need it?”
“Or are they shooing them away more than usual? It happens to everybody sometimes. The key is how much.”
Felice Martin, MS, NCC, LPC, CPCS, NeuroCoach+ NeuroLeader at Behavioral Health Associates of Georgia, LLC, has also explored this phenomenon.
She explains that children may resort to negative attention-seeking behaviors to attract their parents’ focus.
They may even replicate their parents’ phone-centric behavior – which is every parent’s nightmare!
Dr. Alvord says: “You need to put that phone down, especially with teens. When they are willing to talk to you…you need to give them undivided attention.”
“This means you may need to put the phone in a different room.”
And now, a health expert has revealed that phubbing is a danger in romantic relationships, too!
Dr Michael Mosley has written in the Daily Mail that “phubbing significantly and negatively predicted marital satisfaction.”
He revealed that even having your phone around when spending time with your partner is a no-go.
“Research has shown even having a mobile in the same room can be distracting: scientists at the University of Texas found that when students were asked to take a series of tests, those who put their phones in another room did far better than those who had them face down, or in their pocket, switched off.”
“It seems a phone’s very presence reduces our ability to pay attention to anything else. I now leave my phone in another room when we eat. It seems to be working.”
Will you be following his advice?