Not mincing words, a daycare posted a sign on the front door with a blunt demand for parents who were there to pick up their kids. After one parent snapped a picture of the incredibly direct message and posted it on social media, it seemingly struck a nerve as it quickly went viral.
Juliana Farris Mazurkewicz, a Texas mother of four, was picking up her two-year-old daughter Caroline from her daycare just outside of Houston on a Friday afternoon when she noticed a newly posted sign on the doors, according to WTAE. It was a message for parents, so Juliana took the time to read it.
Although the sign was undoubtedly blunt, making demands of parents who were arriving to pick up their children, the mom said she “totally agreed” with the message, the NY Post reported. Juliana snapped a photo of the sign and posted it on Facebook. Little did she know, she was about to go viral as the sign’s controversial message sparked heavy debate with plenty of comments applauding in agreement and many others openly disagreeing, according to Yahoo! News.
The sign was a blunt message to parents, telling them to get off their phones, and in hopes of driving home their point, the daycare deployed all caps and many exclamation points.
“You are picking up your child! GET OFF YOUR PHONE!!” the sign read. “Your child is happy to see you. Are you happy to see your child?? We have seen children trying to hand their parents their work and the parent is on the phone. We have heard a child say ‘MOMMY…MOMMY…MOMMY’ and the parent is paying more attention to their phone than their child. It is appalling.”
Although Juliana happened to have her phone in her hand at the time, she said she usually doesn’t bring it into the daycare for the exact reasons mentioned on the sign.
“At first, I was mostly surprised, it’s surprising for a business to put something that bold to their customers on the door. I knew exactly what they were talking about, because I’ve seen the parents that they’re talking about,” Juliana explained. “And I don’t want to criticize anyone, because I don’t know any of those parents’ situations, but I think it’s something we all do. Maybe not in that specific situation, like at the daycare, but maybe at the dinner table or the car, definitely I do it. My husband and I talked about it, we both agreed, we all do it. It serves as a great reminder.”
So, it was in support of the sign that Juliana snapped the photo and posted it to social media, saying it served as a useful reminder to all parents about a growing problem that stretches far beyond the daycare doors.
“I thought it was awesome,” Juliana admitted. “I thought it was funny and it definitely made me (think),” she continued. “I think (the message) definitely resonates with people,” she said. “And it’s not just at the daycare, it’s anywhere.”
However, not every agreed with the sign’s sentiments. Some had an issue with the message itself, alleging that the daycare was making assumptions while others had a problem with how the message was communicated. And, there were also those who felt it was simply none of the daycare’s business.
“Unreal. For every 10 people they think are ignoring their children, about 1 of them could have a truly legitimate reason,” one Facebook user wrote.
“Stay in your own lane and mind your…business,” posted another.
“Sorry, I’d remove my child from that school,” Janise Warren wrote. “They are right, of course, but that sign is not how you talk to another person, especially one paying your salary. I’m sure it’s true … but these are the people I would have entrusted to help teach my kids respect and they were just as disrespectful with that sign as the parents were with the phone. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“The daycare seems to have the right intentions. After all, as a parent, you should absolutely pay attention to your child and the wonderful work they’re doing! And yes, many of us are on our phones too much, neglecting the present,” Gabriela Herstik wrote for Yahoo! News. “But sometimes a last-minute email, an emergency phone call, or an urgent text message happens. And that’s just life in the 21st century! We applaud the intention behind this sign, but we cannot condone the means in which it was communicated.”
“Some people have to work on their phones. I have my personal cell and a work cell,” Kirstin Ramsey wrote. “Just because I clock out of the office doesn’t mean I’m finished with my work day. There have been plenty of times I’ve picked up my daughter and been on a work call.”
While Juliana agreed that some parents are busy or have demanding jobs, which may cause them to be on their phones at inopportune times occasionally, that isn’t always the case when a parent is distracted by their mobile device. Instead, it seems to be a consistent habit for some parents, and it’s one she hopes they will be encouraged to evaluate.
“The real issue is that it’s a consistent thing with some people, it happens every day. I would like to say that you should definitely evaluate why you’re on the phone constantly, including myself,” she explained.
Other social media users agreed with Juliana and the daycare’s sign with some even suggesting that it should be “posted everywhere,” especially since experts say that, when cell phones cause parents to ignore or miss the needs of their children, it may increase depression.
Although the sign received plenty of backlash, the daycare kept it posted on the door, according to Juliana. However, they did make an addition. The word “please” was added with a smile emoji, ABC 6 reported.
“They’re not backing down, which is pretty crazy,” Juliana said. “We love this daycare. It’s a great place – really loving,” she said. “They obviously care for the kids.”
It would seem that the sign proved effective, according to Juliana Farris Mazurkewicz, who said that, although she had not heard from other parents at the daycare, she hadn’t seen anyone on their phones since the sign went up. It’s almost as if the naysayers know the daycare had a point and a legitimate reason to demand that parents do better. While our phones may need our attention occasionally, our children undeniably need our undivided attention at times. In fact, their mental health depends on it, according to Very Well Mind, and that’s why we will share this story time and again. It is a good reminder, and it’s one that simply can’t be said enough.
