Interesting Topic
I really enjoyed reading about the topic of disconnecting from the Internet, your phone, and other technologies. Mainly my thoughts went to my own three kids. I’ve said for the last couple of years that I think they’re addicted, especially my daughter. Since I don’t have Facebook or Instagram or some of the other things, it’s hard for me to understand why they are on their phones so much. And I never feel like I’m missing out on things because I don’t have these social medias to check on. So, again, I don’t understand why they feel like they’re missing out. I will say to my daughter, “What could you have possibly missed out on in the last 15 seconds?” It’s the constant notifications that keeps her distracted. The only time that I feel like I’m checking my phone so much is when my kids are gone. That’s when I reach for my phone to see if they’ve messaged me to let me know where they are or what they’re doing.
It is a rule at our house that all phones go on the kitchen counter at night by 9:30 during school. However, during the summer time I’m not such a stickler about it. Of course you can imagine how almost every night that my husband or I holler that it’s 9:30 the discourse (and eye rolling) that comes from the kids, especially from my daughter. Apparently we are the only parents that do this and that apparently makes us very mean! I was thinking about this the whole time that I read Teens Disconnect from Technology and wondered how my children would react. I’ve decided that this is an experiment that I’m going to try. Another rule that we have at our house is no phones at the dinner table. This is one that my kids do not mind following. They love to talk about their day and what is coming up. This is about the only time, especially during the school year, that we have time to catch up with what is going on in our lives.
When do I need to be mindful?
I need to be mindful when I get caught up in a game. There are two games that I like to play on my phone and sometimes I do catch myself sitting for way too long to play them. I catch myself not really paying attention to something that my husband or kids have said to me. Other times that I catch myself getting caught up on the Internet is when I’m on Amazon or Pinterest. It is easy, at times, to spend too much time looking through these. Usually this happens about now when summer is winding down and school is just around the corner. I love to look through teacher stuff or books to buy to fill my classroom library. Yes, these are professional things I’m doing, but it doesn’t mean that I should sacrifice face to face time. It makes me feel terrible when I do this. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I did this all the time! Simplify the Internet was my favorite article from this week’s readings. I loved all of the strategies and I am planning on having my daughter read it.
It sounds like you already are mindful about how and when you use the internet. Your family has some great rules for helping you guys take sometime away from the internet and your phones. I wish you luck with helping your daughter to spend less time online. It is not easy to do when all their friends are online all the time. You are a great role model for her. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you. We do try, but like you pointed out it is difficult when friends have different rules.
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I think the rules you have set in place for technology in your house are great! Many times when I am out at restaurants I see everyone on their phones, including parents many times. The dinner table is a great place to connect with your family (especially with a no phones rule) because there is nothing else to do but sleep and eat!
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Thank you, but I will say that sometimes it’s hard to have those rules because their friends don’t have the same.
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Talk and eat! *** I have no idea what I was thinking when I typed *sleep*.
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Lol!
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Love the technology rules you have in place, especially the at the dinner table one. Although I grew up not really eating at the dinner table, we kind of just ate on the couch or mostly in the car traveling somewhere. I personally do not like having my phone when my whole family is around.
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I will admit that it is easy to look at the phone constantly when you have it right there in front of you and I am sure that we are all guilty of focusing on our phones instead of the people in front of us. We all need to be diligent in trying to find ways to really be listening to the people you are with!
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