There was a time, when she was a young teenager, that my granddaughter would pull out her phone while we were at the table and she'd start scrolling. She's 21 and I would be astonished to see that happen now. I don't know how she learned it was rude, very rude, to do that.

I can't imagine my son or daughter pulling out their phones today.

It's not only a matter of engaging in the moment...it's also a matter of civility. Basic courtesy.

My daughter and I take a walk every night (most nights) because I think she's trying to keep me alive :))) Even when she's tired she persuades me to walk with her. However, she plays music on her phone. We talk the whole time, but always there is music in the background. I find it disconcerting, but I understand that she always has music playing--everywhere, all the the time. It's low and barely audible, but music makes her happy. So I don't say anything and ignore it (most of the time I can't hear it anyway). Personally, I like silence. I like to hear the night, the birds, the wind, or just the hum of silence.

We do stop and look at the sky. The night sky puts on a show. Sometimes it's stars, sometimes clouds, sometimes a dramatic moon. At that point I'm not even aware of the music, but it's always there.

I love the picture of your son at the beach, a priceless and universal image of childhood.