Once upon a time, the school bus stop was a buzzing hub of excitement. A daily social event, a mini-festival of childhood enthusiasm. When my kids were little, they’d practically run out the door, eager to see their friends—not just to get to school, but because the bus stop was where the fun really began.
The moment they arrived, the chatter would start. Who had the best snack in their lunchbox? Who had watched the latest episode of whatever show was cool at the time? (Probably something now relegated to ‘retro TV’ status—ouch). The kids would line up their bags with military precision, staking their claim in the great hierarchy of bus boarding. There was laughter, there was gossip, there were impromptu games that made the minutes fly by.
And then, today, I drove past two bus stops.
Not a single word was being spoken.
At least 6-8 kids at each stop, all staring into their phones like they’d been possessed by the digital overlords. No chatter, no laughter, no dramatic re-enactments of last night’s TV cliffhanger. Just a row of silent statues, bathed in the glow of tiny screens.
Where did the banter go? When did bus stops become waiting rooms for the socially disengaged? I wanted to roll down my window and yell, “Oi! Look up! Talk to each other! You’ll never remember the epic meme you just scrolled past, but you will remember that time your mate convinced you they saw a ghost behind the bus stop!”
I get it. Technology has its grip. I’m not some out-of-touch dinosaur shaking my fist at progress (although, let’s be honest, sometimes I do). But it’s a bit sad, isn’t it? A whole chunk of childhood—those little unscripted moments of connection—slipping away under the weight of notifications and endless scrolling.
One day, I wonder if these kids will reminisce about the time they stood next to their best friend, each absorbed in a separate digital world, missing the real one happening right beside them.
Maybe we need to start a movement. A ‘Bring Back the Banter’ campaign. A National Talk at the Bus Stop Day. Something to remind kids that the best memories aren’t stored in a phone—they’re lived, in real time, with real people.
And if they need help remembering how to do that, I know a few nostalgic parents who’d be happy to teach them.
#LostBanter #BusStopMemories #LookUpFromYourPhone #ChildhoodConnections #OldSchoolFun #TalkToEachOther #BringBackTheBanter #RealLifeMoments