Dad shares what happened when he forgot his phone on a recent outing

Dad shares, “I put the phone down to be ‘In The Moment’ with my son and it was a HUGE mistake!”

Aaron Gouveia, shares on Huffington Post why he regrets leaving his phone behind on a recent adventure with his young son.

On a fishing trip with his son Sam, Aaron realised he accidentally left his phone at home.

He thought pffft, let’s make the most of it, “Just a dad and his son. Fishing and paddling and talking and connecting with one another and nature. Besides, who needs a camera when the mind’s eye is so wondrous, right?”

Well eff that noise, because the answer is me — I need a camera. And going without my phone was absolutely awful, and I’m never doing it again!

“But the big reason I’ll forever kick myself for not going back for my phone is because Sam caught his first fish on this trip — and I missed it.”

When he realized he had a fish on he FREAKED OUT with excitement and began reeling like a madman. He was shouting “I’VE GOT A FISH! DADA I’VE GOT A FISH! I’M A REAL FISHERMAN!” and his shrieks could be heard clear across Populatic Pond.

He and the fish battled but eventually Sam got the better of him and plopped a smallmouth bass into the canoe. Once in the boat, Sam screamed “I CAUGHT A FISH ALL BY MYSELF!!!!!” with triumphant resonance. And as a proud papa, my smile widened as my eyes watered. And at that moment Sam turned to me, cocked his head to one side, and said something I’ll never forget.

“Dad, you got that on video right?”

Aaron adds, “I hate to break it to these professional parent-shamers, but it’s entirely possible to take pictures and videos of your kids and “be in the moment.” Using a smartphone to record kids and being present are not mutually exclusive things, and I’m not sure why it’s now socially acceptable to simply believe that’s the case. If you overdo it then sure, it can be a problem. That’s true for anything — especially dispensing judgmental parenting advice on the Internet.”

“I will hold on to the memory of Sam’s first fish for as long as my addled mind allows. But I sure do wish I had caught it on video.”

Read the full post here.

Read more at The Daddy Files, and follow Aaron on Twitter (@daddyfiles) and Facebook.

We LOVE this! He makes a great point. Although we can see what authorities are saying about being more alert and aware of children when in public areas.

Australian Police warn parents to put the phone down

PARENTS who let themselves get distracted by their mobiles while out with their children might as well be posting an invite for paedophiles to come and snatch their kids, shares Daily Telegraph.

Police are warning parents to focus on their children, not on Facebook, following a spate of attempted child abductions across Sydney.

“What I think is good to do is if parents are out in shopping centres with their children, tell them if you can’t see me and I can’t see you then we’re too far apart,” Police serious crime director John Kerlatec said.

Mr Kerlatec said parents needed to ensure they did not become distracted while watching their children in public.

“Any distraction, including mobile phones, would be a concern,” he said.

Which side do you sit in regards to phone use around children?

Share your comments below

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17 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 06 Oct 2017
    5:04 pm
in public, watch the kids! it is called priorities and parenting

- - ella12 said
  - 20 Jun 2017
    4:12 pm
It’s disappointing he missed the picture but it’s not the end all and be all.

- - mom206279 said
  - 16 Jun 2017
    9:14 am
I wouldn’t leave my phone at home because my son is so accident prone and I’m always likely to need his dad to come pick us up (or worse, an ambulance). Just use some common sense.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 15 Jun 2017
    8:11 pm
I like to print my photos but have no idea how to get them off the mobile phone-I stick with the good old camera.

- - tessie said
  - 15 Jun 2017
    12:37 pm
I always have my mobile with me but if I’m out with anyone it stays in my pocket unless I get a text. Then I just excuse myself while I check if it’s important otherwise I reply at a later time. I always like to know where everyone is.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 14 Jun 2017
    6:33 pm
I love having my phone there to use as a camera- it’s so easy and compact. It doesn’t mean that I’m on it all the time, because I’m not.

- - rovermum said
  - 14 Jun 2017
    12:09 pm
I know what he means – damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I’m not as addicted to my phone as some, and I try to disconnect from my phone when I can, however, it’s usually when you don’t have your phone that you miss something awesome like this.

- - mom160421 said
  - 14 Jun 2017
    9:31 am
Past generations didn’t record every moment and still lived happy, meaningful lives … go figure.

- - nealsq said
  - 14 Jun 2017
    4:35 am
there is a big difference between recording memories and playing on your phone

- - Ellen said
  - 14 Jun 2017
    3:50 am
I hate it when I realize I don’t have my phone when I hit the road, for the reason that you’re stuck when an accident or emergency occurs.
It’s good to be careful with posting on Facebook, especially in the light of all the attempted child abductions across Sydney ! So scary.

- - june11 said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    10:39 pm
I haven’t even worked out how to take good photos on my phone even when home. I avoid using my phone when out, especially if the children are with us at all. I basically only use it in emergencies when out and about, never in traffic – it’s hard to use over vehicle noise even using as a passenger.

- - mom101628 said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    9:12 pm
I’m not for all this videoing of everything – this will be a special moment for Aaron and his dad to remember and will be their secret memory for ever. No one can spoil it by saying ‘What a tiny fish?’ or ‘My fish was bigger’ or any other derogatory thing. Enjoy your special memory and forget the phone.

- - cherz said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    7:32 pm
Phones have there place …sure enough many use them way tooo much but in this case a first was missed and only ones memory will recall it. Sorry you missed a great photo or video Aaron, wishing you and Sam all the very best.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    6:47 pm
How do parents survive these days always being on the phone? My older children had to wait for the film to be developed or using a Polaroid hope it worked. Even now with the younger children we do not use our phones near them as it takes away our fun time. Everyone is about pasting photos all over social media.

- - BellaB said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    6:01 pm
Well, I’ve never worked out how to download photos off my phone, so I just use a camera.

- - mom90758 said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    6:00 pm
I also thought that the mobile phone would have turned out to be necessary for some sort of emergency. Glad to hear that wasn’t the case. But yes, that’s a pity for the missed video.

I always have the phone or camera with me when I am outside. But I am not in social media when I am out of the house and I answer sms just if they are really important.

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 13 Jun 2017
    5:44 pm
Oh I thought this was going to be some sort of accident. What a shame they missed out on videoing it, it would have been a great reaction to have captured