I admit, I text my daughter to come to dinner rather than holler up the stairs like my mother used to do.  We text when she's away from home rather than talk on the phone. She sends me links to interesting articles. And I send her photos of cute clothes I see when I am out shopping without her (which is rare these days). Would you say I am a "connected" or "disconnected" mom?

Some scholars would say that while we are more "connected" in terms of sharing information, we are more "disconnected" when it comes to developing interpersonal relationships. A recent TED talk by Psychiatrist Philip Zimbardo even suggested that boys are suffering the most when it comes to emotional intelligence and social function as a result of an over-reliance on technology and the absence of in-person interaction.

I don't have a son, so I can't speak to the issue personally. I know my daughter says that most of the boys she knows have a hard time communicating. Of course we are talking about 8th-graders. Have they ever really been as good at communicating as girls at that age?  

The way I see it, technology is just another tool in our communications kit. It serves very specific roles and functions. And when used properly, it really can increase the connection we have with our children. It should not, can not and never will replace the invaluable connection we make when we spend time listening (it should come first) and talking with our kids face to face.  

As kids head back to school and schedules fill up, let me challenge you to find ways each day to truly connect with your children both digitally and directly. If you have ideas or ways you do that, let us know. We'd love to hear it.