Blackberry Moms

I have heard in recent months about the effect of technology on parenting. I have seen scenes on television of children looking longingly at the parent while the parent is using a Blackberry, for example. My own experience into the phenomenon has now been widened to include an actual observance of my daughter and five-year-old grandson in this mode. I was blessed earlier this month to be invited to be a nanny to my grandson in New York City while his mom was on a business trip. I loved New York and the times I shared with Cole, my grandson, for two full weeks. We did all kinds of activities in the city--two children's museums, two zoos, two trips to the famous Toys R Us location in Times Square with the Ferris wheel and roaring T-Rex, a dance on the big piano in FAO Swartz, a fun time at Dylan's Candy Bar, the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the play Mary Poppins, and numerous other experiences. I can't imagine how I would have held a Blackberry and been able to communicate with Cole. My daughter, however, is much better at multi-tasking than I. I first observed her in the backyard patio of the apartment we rented in Brooklyn. The landlords had put in a basketball goal, swing, slide, and play area for their children, Ella and Cole (yes, another Cole). Our Cole loved this area and was able to develop his skills of dribbling and shooting baskets while we were there. On one morning, Kimberly (our daughter) was waiting for an e-mail confirmation. She held her Blackberry in her right hand and shot several baskets with her left hand at the same time. I was amazed. I have also observed her ability to keep three conversations going at once--to her son, to me, and to the Blackberry tweets. Cole even became so interested in this process that, before our time ended in New York, he sent his first e-mail to his mom, knowing that she would read it almost immediately on her Blackberry. I, at this point, am still unsure about the intervention of technology on our parenting roles. Future research will show us whether this will be a positive or negative influence upon our children overall in their development. For me, the jury is still out.