Nap time.

My son went to a seminar this past weekend and shared with me some interesting things. (Of course I have told him these things for a long time but I am "just mom ranting.")  The online media world is taking over. We are not having the personal associations with people that we need. The phone has become our controller over all we do. As he was telling me this I got a text and immediately tuned him out to see if it was some "emergency" I needed to respond to. I though I was usually pretty careful with doing that but this time I wasn't. I was rude and put that little phone over listening to what my son was saying.  I have always felt that my family is way to involved in this media world. I have encourage some of them to follow the rule that my house is a cell phone free area. That games and texts need to wait.  My children are missing many special moments in their lives by reading a text. A smile from a baby. A cheer of joy with a child's job well done. A connection of the ball and bat at a ball game.  A frown of misunderstanding from a comment. The look of frustration when the phone chimes AGAIN.  I am not saying this to scold anyone. I am guilty too. My children already know how I feel about it. I just wonder what kind of message we are giving to these little ones. Will they know how to communicate in person? Will they know the meaning of facial expressions?  Will they know that it is okay to not jump and answer every little sound from a phone? That they can have the choice to answer or not?  It seems to becoming worse all the time. I have been in stores, a paying customer, and had the cashier carry on a conversation while taking my hard earned money.  Or I have to stand and wait for the call to end. Then a brisk "sorry" is suppose to excuse their rudeness.  Please don't misunderstand me. The technology is great. To have  a phone to call for help in an emergency is life saving.  What wonderful things we can do but it also is frustrating and controlling. I don't always carry my phone with me. I feel like my "free" time is my time and that if I get a message or call I can return it when I can.  I guess I am being ornery today.  For me personally I would rather not even have a cell phone. I also get frustrated with the hours that are eaten by E-mails, Face book, and just web browsing. I set a time and allow myself  to do those things but then I get up and leave it for the day. I use to check in the mornings, afternoon, and bedtime.. WHY?  Not many things need my "like" or comment immediately. I can see what has happened the next day. So that being said, I am going to put my blog down for a little nap for a few days or maybe even a couple of weeks. I want you to spend the time you would use reading my blog  to talk to a child,  pick up your phone and CALL a friend, go for a walk, sing a song,  take a nap,  eat a snack,  do something fun that you have not had the time to do...... I will be back.