Addicted to the Screen

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We had a bit of a rough day yesterday.

The older kids were home from school and like always, Julian didn't know what to do with himself. Bored.

So...he played video games on his play station.

My husband and I were having our morning coffee and we could already hear him on the phone with someone.

He was speaking with a friend and playing on line. 

I likely should have asked him to get off but, I didn't. 

I had an entire house to clean + far too much laundry to take care of.

I am guilty of something.

The need for peace. For time to get things done.

I have come to learn that if I don't keep my little guy busy, he will drive his little sister crazy. 

This in turn drives me crazy.

And a crazy mama is no good for anyone.

So, in today's case, I let him play. 

After some time, I asked him to come up to do homework.

He did that in about 10 minutes flat.

It's only coloring mom.

He did a few other things and at some point returned to the basement. 

I'm not sure exactly how long he played but I do know it felt too long to me. 

I calmly went down.

I calmly unplugged the console. 

And then I calmly told him he would never see it again.

He was not so calm. 

We spent just under 5 weeks in Florida this summer with no video games + very minimal "screen time" in general.

And then, we came home to find that the neighbourhood boys were all playing. And not outside. 

At first, we set it to an hour a day but somewhere, at some point, we all lost sight of how much he was playing. Even Julian.

He will hide it. 

He will lie about it. 

He doesn't realize how long he has been playing and will vehemently deny being on for "that long".

This is when I knew it had to end. 

The year before last he lost computer + video game access for an entire year.

We mean business.

It just takes us a while to get it sometimes.

Today, I got it. 

My name is Susan and I'm addicted to my iphone. and coffee.

I play games. I tweet. I check out people's photos on instagram.

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I love it all.

Probably a bit too much.

My husband? He's addicted to his ipad. Although he's been getting better lately.

Sometimes for fun, I check his google search feed.

You can learn a lot about someone + their thought process by doing this. 

Sons of Anarchy

what season is Sons of Anarchy on

Charlie Hunnam {sp?} 

british

does Charlie Hunnam have an accent 

 Isabella? She's addicted to not being able to leave her phone anywhere. God forbid she miss a phone call or a text. This too is new. 

She was the last kid in her entire 8th grade graduating class to get a phone.

And also the only one with a mother who managed a sales team for a telecommunications company.

We all have something.

So really, it's no surprise that Julian loves electronics.

And I still believe there is a time and place for them. 

After all, he does plan to be the next Steve Jobs.

But, until that time, I need to curb this thing. And get this kid outside.

Is it just me or do kids not go outside anymore??

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Late yesterday afternoon, I told Julian to call a friend and walk over to the park. 

He did. They did. 

They played for a good long while and then walked back to our house.

Wanting to go to the convenience store.

It made my heart happy. 

I mean, I spent my entire childhood walking back and forth to the convenience store. 

And eating far too much candy.

Little steps. 

Do you feel that there is an unhealthy amount of electronic usage going on in your home?

What, if anything, are you trying to do to change it? 
Help a mama out.