This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karen Silberman, founder of T he Phone Valet . It has been edited for length and clarity. When my son was in 6th grade, he started attending lots of bar and bat mitzvahs . This is such a milestone in our community — really beautiful celebrations. And yet, what I saw at these parties bothered me. Kids would walk in with the phone glued to their hands, and it would stay there all night. Whenever there was a pause or lull, they'd default to