The Technology Balance

Do you struggle with the technology balance?

I read something on facebook today, a poem about a "Mom" always on her iphone.  It resonated with me in many ways.  The mum was busy,even at the park, checking her phone.  She missed seeing her little girl twirling in her skirt.  She hardly acknowledged her little boy showing off his latest climbing achievement.

Today, after reading this poem, I realised I really am not present enough with my children.  

This mum could be me.  But not any more.  Enough.  In a strange coincidence, just yesterday I uninstalled facebook from my mobile.  It was completely sucking my time up with, basically complete *crap*.

 Our home has always had access to technology and therefore so have our children and I have always struggled and felt conflicted about what amount of time is an ok amount of time for them to spend with technology.  Part of me says they are exposed to too much of it.  The other side of me says but this is the world they are growing up in.  This IS their normal.  How do you strike a balance.  How much is enough?


Being a working Mum is a struggle at times, especially when you are trying to finish some of your required hours at home.  I know I am guilty of collecting the kids, giving them afternoon tea while I open my laptop.  This is not acceptable.  So I am going to make changes.  They will be hard, even though they should be easy.

When M2 asks me to sit next to her, or play with her, I will try my best to.

When M1 wants to tell me about his Bakugon (man, how I loathe these), I will try my best to listen and see his enjoyment from this.

All too soon their childhood will be gone.  I don't want to be left wondering what I was doing throughout it.

Affirmations

Do you use affirmations?  I have always been interested in these, even though the idea of them sounds a little, out there.  Louise L Hay who is a great believer and proponent in affirmations has written many books on the subject.

I have started to use three affirmations, each day as I am waking up.  I say them over and over in my head, gently trying to rouse myself from sleep. 

I am strong and capable
I am enough
My body will thrive with exercise

I repeat them, in my head until I can wake up enough to get out of bed and face the world (or more honestly, my ever enthusiastic children).  They (the affirmations) are not changing my world, yet. but they are giving me a mental focus.

I am strong and capable
Sometimes when I look around the mess that is my house with the ceiling that needs painting, windows that need washing, ironing and folding up etc etc, I feel completely overwhelmed and powerless.  The above affirmation is to remind myself that if I reflect, I am indeed extremely strong and extremely capable, of many, many things.


I am enough
I blame this on the "yummy/super mummy" culture we all live in.  I never feel like I get enough done, exercise enough, prepare good enough food.  But my kids think I am (mostly) awesome and my husband still loves me after 20 years.  So I must be doing something right?


My body will thrive with exercise
 I am really trying to get back into some kind of exercise routine, and this is going ok, but the focus to lose the weight gained over the last 12 months is disheartening.  I am hoping focusing on the positive image of my body "thriving" on exercise, will help me with my determination.

I say these affirmations through the day (always in my head - does that mean I think them instead??) when I am losing focus or just need a minute to "breathe". 

They are working... a little.

Learning.....

Today I am grateful for learning, in all it's forms.

I love seeing the enthusiasm in my children's eyes as they learn how to do something new.   Sometimes this is through me as a parent showing them, sometimes they are inspired by their teacher.  Whatever has sparked their eagerness is ok with me.  To see the desire and joy on their faces as they improve is just priceless.

I have also been doing a lot of learning about myself. We are often our harshest critic.  I have learnt that it is ok to try things, fall down and get back up again.  I love that I am slowly learning to understand that I have flaws.  I have learnt to accept that some of my flaws can be improved, fixed if you will.  Also, some of them are just what makes me, well, me.

Sometimes in life it is so easy to focus on the small details we forget the big picture.

Everyday when we get up and go through the motions that make up our daily life, we are doing ok. I think we sometimes forget the wonder that kids get from learning their multiplication tables or discovering they can read the word "the". 

The challenge of the daily grind, the hassle of homework, school lunches, working etc is tiring.  But try and allow a little wonder into your adult view point again, and enjoy learning from your children's point of view.  Be grateful you can be part of the experience.  Linking up with Village Voices and 52 weeks of grateful.