A Powerful Moral Story for Parents: I Want to Be a Smartphone!
A moral story can often reveal deep truths about life, and being a parent is one of the most beautiful yet challenging responsibilities. Every child looks up to their parents for love, attention and guidance. A strong relationship between a parent and child plays a vital role in shaping a child’s emotional well-being, confidence and overall development. When parents listen carefully to their children, spend quality time with them and genuinely care for them, it builds a deep bond of trust and affection.
However, in today’s fast-paced digital world, technology—especially smartphones—has become an integral part of our daily lives. While smartphones have made communication, work, and entertainment more accessible, they have also inadvertently created a gap in family relationships. Many parents inadvertently prioritize their screens over meaningful interactions with their children. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, playing games, or catching up on work emails, excessive smartphone use can make children feel neglected, lonely, and emotionally disconnected from their parents.
This story, “I want to be a smartphone!”, is a powerful reminder of how technology can affect family relationships. It highlights the innocent yet heartbreaking perspective of a child who feels neglected because of his parents’ obsession with their smartphones. This story is an eye-opener for every parent, urging them to consider their priorities and ensure that their children get the love, attention, and time they truly deserve.
Let’s dive into this heartwarming moral story that will make every parent rethink their relationship with their child.
The Moral Story: "I Want to Be a Smartphone!"
The evening was peaceful after dinner. A teacher was sitting on the couch in her beautifully decorated home, with a pile of her students’ exam papers piled up around her. As she was carefully checking each answer sheet, her husband was sitting next to her, completely immersed in his smartphone. There was silence in the room, except for the occasional sound of the husband’s fingers tapping on the phone screen while playing his favourite game.
The teacher was dedicated to her profession and took immense pride in shaping young minds. As she was flipping through the pages, she smiled at some of her students’ innocent and creative answers. But as she reached a particular paper, her face suddenly changed. Her eyes filled up with tears and a lump formed in her throat. Before she knew it, tears started rolling down her face.
Her husband, who was distracted by the action, finally looked up from his phone and saw his wife crying silently. Shocked, he put down his smartphone and asked worriedly, “Why are you crying? What happened?”
The teacher wiped her tears and tried to speak. After a deep breath, she replied in a choked voice, “Yesterday, I gave a test to my first grade students. The topic was simple: ‘My wish.'”
Her husband, still shocked, asked, “Okay, but why is this making you so emotional?” With trembling hands, she picked up the answer sheet and said, “Because a child’s wish has shaken me to the core. Let me read it out to you.”
Then the teacher read aloud what the little child had written:
“My wish: I want to become a smartphone. My parents love their smartphone so much. They take care of it so much that they often forget to take care of me. When my father comes home tired from work, he has time for his smartphone, but not for me.
When my parents are busy and the phone rings, they answer immediately, but when I cry for their attention, they don’t even look at me. My father has time to play games on his smartphone, but he never plays with me. My parents watch videos of other children, but they never look at me. When they are talking on their smartphones, they don’t listen to me, no matter how important my words are. So I want to become a smartphone.”
As the teacher finished reading, her voice cracked with emotion. A heavy silence fell over the room.
The husband, who was now clearly emotional, sat quietly for a moment, absorbing the child’s innocent but painful words. His eyes softened as he looked at his wife and asked, “Who wrote this?”
With tears still streaming down her face, she looked at him and whispered, “Our son.”
The husband’s face turned pale. He slowly looked down at the smartphone still resting in his hand. In that moment, it felt heavier than ever, as if it was carrying the weight of their child’s unspoken pain. A deep realization struck him like lightning – his own child feels neglected because of the device he spends so much time with.
A deep silence descended on the room, as both parents sat in shock. Their hearts ached, realizing how blind they were to their child’s feelings. The husband, who always considered himself a loving and responsible father, felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. He never imagined that his love for technology could have made his son feel so unwanted.
At that very moment, their little son came into the room holding something in his tiny hands. With shining eyes, he excitedly ran towards his mother, wanting to show her what he had created. But before he could say anything, his mother embraced him tightly, holding him tight as tears streamed down her face.
The father joined them, gently placing his hand on his son’s head, silently promising to change. The smartphone, which was once a source of distraction, now lay forgotten on the couch. At that moment, nothing mattered – only their child and the love they had almost ignored.
This story is a warning to every parent. It is a reminder that children don’t need expensive gifts or fancy gadgets; they need time, attention and love. In the race to stay connected to the digital world, let us not lose sight of those who matter the most – our own family.
The Lesson for Parents
Children are the most innocent creatures in this world. They want love, attention and emotional security from their parents. However, in today’s digital age, many parents unwittingly neglect their children due to excessive use of smartphones. The heartbreaking wish of the little boy in the story is not just a fantasy – it reflects the silent struggles of many children who feel neglected in their own homes.
How Parents' Smartphone Addiction Affects Children Emotionally
Technology has undoubtedly made life easier, but its excessive use has created an emotional distance between parents and children. When parents are constantly attached to their smartphone – whether for work, social media or entertainment – it sends an indirect message to their child: “This device is more important than you.” This unintentional neglect can deeply impact a child’s emotional well-being in several ways:
- Feelings of neglect – When parents are always busy with their phones, children feel unimportant and unwanted. Over time, this neglect can lead to emotional isolation.
- Low self-esteem – Children who don’t get enough attention from their parents start to believe that they don’t deserve love or affection.
- Behavioral changes – Some children may become withdrawn and withdrawn, while others may develop attention-seeking behaviors such as tantrums or aggression.
- Lack of emotional expression – If a child repeatedly feels that he or she is not being listened to, he or she may stop sharing his or her thoughts and feelings, creating communication barriers in the family.
- Increased dependence on technology – When children don’t get emotional support from their parents, they may turn to screens for comfort, creating an unhealthy cycle of digital dependency.
The Importance of Giving Quality Time to Kids
Children don’t ask for much – just love, attention and a little time. Quality time doesn’t mean grand gestures or expensive gifts; it means being fully present in the moment. When parents spend meaningful time with their children, it strengthens their emotional bond and builds a foundation of trust.
Here’s why it’s important to give children quality time:
- Strengthens the bond between parents and children – Regular interactions, such as playing together, reading stories or simply talking, help build a strong emotional connection.
- Builds confidence – Children feel valued when parents acknowledge their thoughts, feelings and accomplishments.
- Encourages open communication – When parents listen to their children, it creates a safe space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves.
- Promotes healthy emotional development – Parents’ love and attention help children become emotionally secure individuals.
Simple but effective ways parents can spend quality time with their children include:
✅ Set a “no-phone” zone – avoid using the phone during family meals, bedtime and playtime.
✅ Engage in meaningful conversations – ask about their day, their interests and their ideas.
✅ Play together – join them in their favourite games, puzzles or outdoor activities.
✅ Read stories – reading books together strengthens bonds and enhances a child’s imagination.
✅ Create special family moments – plan activities like weekend outings, movie nights or storytelling sessions.
Smartphones are an indispensable part of modern life, but they should never come at the expense of family relationships. As parents, we must ask ourselves: are we truly present for our children, or are we too distracted by our screens? The choice is ours – to create a home full of warmth, love and meaningful relationships, or to let technology build walls between us and our little ones.
Let’s make the right choice – before it’s too late.
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