I just wanted to slap her

I was out at Steak n' Shake the other night with mom, as dad was gone on his Corvette Caravan to the museum. Towards the latter part of our meal, a mother and her son (who I'm gonna put at about 9 years) were seated near us. The lady caught my attention because she was kind of obnoxious. She was talking on her cell phone and was mostly leaning over the table but then would throw herself back in astonishment or laughter because something was just SO funny... and then go back to leaning forward. Who does this?

Anyways, so that being sort of annoying in itself, the point is: she was on her cell phone. Her son was sitting across from her and I don't know if he had drawn something on the placemat or what, but he had something to show her. He says "Mommy... mommy... mommy......... mommy....... mommy....... mommy?......." a few times just trying to get her attention.

She. did. not. even. notice.

I felt so sorry for the kid. I wanted to go over and give him a hug for crying out loud and wanted to have him show ME whatever it was he was excited about. I wanted to just slap the lady! Pay attention to your son! Get off your goddamn phone! Not only was it heartbreaking at the time, if that is how she always treats him or if that carries over at home: he is going to grow up with some problems. It's the kids who go through those sorts of things that end up acting out at school and such because they don't get the attention at home; they seek it elsewhere.

She was probably on her phone for 3/4 of the time they were there, and when she wasn't, she wasn't interacting with her child in the least. I was just so saddened by her neglect for her child. Parenting these days... ugh. Sometimes I see glimmers of hope and many people that I am associated with do parent their children well. But there are just so many horrible examples out there of how lazy and terrible parenting has become.