Just when you think you may have made some positive steps in parenting, your children bring you back to the reality that “success” is a relative term.

Sitting in church on Sunday morning, I looked down the row at my kids. And just like every other Sunday morning, they were all in their seats. No one ever changes; it’s like we own those seats. I’m not sure we could make it through church free of distraction if we didn’t sit in the same seats every Sunday morning.

As I glanced at the boys, I noticed they were looking down as if they were on their phones. But no, they couldn’t be looking at their phones; it was time for church, they never look at their phones in church.

Indeed, when the pastor invited everyone to open their Bibles or take out their electronic device to read the scripture on their mobile device, my boys took full advantage of the invitation.

I’ve been a mom for 23 years. It would be nice to live in a fantasy world and believe my sons were reading scripture from their Bible app, but … I know better. A few moments later, they were reading a text from me, telling them: Unless you’re following along on your Bible App on your phone, you need to put your phone away.

It’s Mother’s Day and somehow I believed they would have some semblance of respect and put their phones away, but no – this happened. My youngest son responded this way: IDK about Luke but I have a bible app. (IDK means “I don’t know,” for those of you not familiar with texting slang.)

Me: Whatever. Put it away.

The youngest; Happy mother’s day, I love U and You looked good up there on the praise team

Me: Put. It. AWAY!!!!

Then the older son joined in with his unique response: Sorry Jessie’s grandpa is in the hospital and she was giving me an update. (A complete fabrication.)

Me: In that case you should be praying not TEXTING!

The older son: We were praying through text, then someone interrupted.

Then the older son sent the “Verse of the Day” that he received from his Bible App that he quickly downloaded during our texting dialog. Seeing the “Verse of the Day,” the youngest son texted: I love that verse.

And with that I gave them the “Mom glare” – and they put their phones away.

As I sat back, I could hardly stop laughing to myself. Here I was, sitting in church, on my phone texting, the very thing I told them not to do – on MOTHER’S DAY.

While I would love to believe that they listened to every word the pastor preached and will apply newly learned Biblical principles to their lives this week, I guess I should just be happy they attend church regularly without protest. Like I said, parenting success is a relative term.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.