My love/hate relationship with technology

A recent article got me thinking about my relationship to technology, both when I was a kid and now that I’m a mother.

As a child who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I enjoyed climbing trees and making forts, riding my bike whenever and wherever possible, and watching Saturday morning cartoons. Life was a-ok…until mom put the kibosh on my dreams of mastering Super Mario. She refused to buy us a Nintendo.  Ma didn’t want to see us glued to the TV like every other family we knew (that and it was too expensive).

Now that I’m an adult and mom myself, I am so thankful for my mom’s wisdom to keep the Nintendo out of the house and valued family time and opportunities for me to explore and be a kid. Everywhere I look nowadays, people have their heads down, children distracted, and selfie poses engaged in front of some sort of device. We are completely consumed by technology. It drives me nuts! Trying to have a conversation with someone while their fingers tap away on their phone. At least I get the courtesy side glance now and again—they’re listening…I’m not convinced. Why can’t we be still? Why can’t we enjoy the moment? What I want to say—value me and my time and put the phone down. I know, I can be selfish.

Do you ever sit in a waiting room or restaurant and, well, just sit? Let your mind rest? Try it sometime; it’s glorious! I don’t have a work phone and don’t access my email outside of the office. I love my job for this rare freedom!

I find it refreshing to sit outside, reading a book, while my daughter rainbow colors another princess dress from her Disney Princess coloring book—heck, I’ll even break out my creative side and color up an Ariel or Snow White. Playing lifeguard at my outdoor, above-ground, kiddie pool brings me joy—“Mom! Watch how big I can splash!” My children frequently ask, “Can I watch a show?” or, “Can I play a game on your phone?” and sometimes I give in, but most of the time it’s a no. We own a Kindle Fire but have no idea where it is. I’m 95% sure it has a nice even layer of dust collecting across its screen.

To be clear, I don’t hate phones. I carry mine wherever I go and at rare times find myself acting the hypocrite. I’ll also monkey around on the ol’ iPhone 6 before I go to bed—I still enjoy the modern convenience. It’s just not glued to my hand 24/7. My husband knows that if I’m out with the gals and he needs to get a hold of me, he’s better off calling the restaurant than calling my cell.

So what’s my point? What is my tirade getting at? It’s this: people see you. Your children see you. Do society a favor and be an active participant. Be kind and courteous. Walk and drive about safely. And, if you are clearly cruising your phone at a meeting—I am secretly judging you.

If you’d like to get a hold of me….call the office.