Put the phone down mummy

A family came into the cafe where I was ensconced with coffee and cake.
The dad went off to order food whilst mum sat down and the little girl got herself onto the chair opposite.
She was well turned out, quiet and it was obvious, had been out to eat at a cafe many times before.
Mum sat herself opposite taking little notice of her daughter, and, pulling out her phone, proceeded to scroll through posts.
It was clear from the way her daughter started chattering, that she wanted to engage her mother in a chat, but there was no response at all. In fact, mother didn't even register her daughter.
Dad sat down. He nudged his partner and told her what he'd ordered. Without breaking visual communication with her screen, she muttered something then carried on scrolling.
Dad looked at daughter and told her to sit still. All this time, the little girl of 3 or 4 had been sitting patiently attempting to get mummy to talk with her. She began to play with the salt and pepper pots. Mother looked up, told her off, then looked at her screen once more.
Even whilst eating, mother's prime focus was her screen....as was dads.
And the child? Their child? Who talked with her? Who educated her? And what message was being given the child? She sat, eating alone in the silent, isolated world she found herself in. She appeared shunned by technology, pushed into an insular world where those closest to you, teach you the modern day life lessons, phone control and failed physical interaction.
I finished my coffee and left, saddened by what I had seen.