When phones replace relationships

The first message Phionah receives on her phone every morning, hasn’t changed for the last six years. This is since she walked down the aisle with Andrew, the man she adores.

Thursday, May 17, 2012
Using mobile technology shouldnu2019t replace quality time spent with your family. Net photo.

The first message Phionah receives on her phone every morning, hasn’t changed for the last six years. This is since she walked down the aisle with Andrew, the man she adores.He religiously sends the message; ‘morning hun, luv u. c u l8r’. They have fought over that since they got married but it has never changed. He leaves before she wakes up every morning and the best he can do is sending a text and calling her occasionally.He is so engrossed with his job that the only time he spends with his kids and wife is on phone, yet they live under the same roof.Andrew is the kind of man who gives priority to his job and businesses over everything else, including Phionah; the wife, their children and family.He has turned down important occasions in life like his children’s birthdays, sister’s wedding and visiting relatives and friends simply because he believes he can make it up to them with just a text or phone call.This has distanced him from the wife who claims to be married to a selfish guy who only cares about money making.Phionah says that Andrew provides everything for the children but that is not enough. They hardly ever see him. At times the children say they do not like him because they never see him and there is no way she can explain to them that he is a busy father all year round."Sometimes I wish I had gotten married to a man who makes time for his family and not building up riches. I look at his phone like it were a co-wife since he thinks messages and calls are enough. Even when he tries to come home early, he is too busy with his smart phone twitting, writing emails, exchanging whatsup messages or chatting on Facebook. The phone has become a curse in my marriage,” she states."The most hurting moments is when the children are trying to show him a picture they have drawn or when they need help with their homework and he is distracted by his phone,” says Phionah.Whereas phones have made life easy through simplifying communication, to some extent, some people have ignored their relationship responsibilities.Many people hardly make time for friends, family and spouses simply because they think talking to them over the phone or sending a text message is enough.Communication on phone isn’t bad however, spending quality time to sit down with your family and spouse is more important. Too much work isn’t an excuse, family is always more important, because your home is where you go to after everything else is done.