Afternoon dear readers. A lot has happened in the last month to the point where I felt like my brain was going to fry, so I have made a decision to leave Facebook - hopefully, for good! I find that putting myself out there on one of the most viewed social platforms does me and my family more harm than good, plus all the cool kids are off Facebook now ;)
In all seriousness however, this decision came out of my aim to protect my family and my sanity and to secure my almost one year old son a healthy, old-fashioned Childhood that involves minimal amounts of tech and a maximum amount of our attention and guidance.
Just a week ago I was so upset with myself, I have been browsing Facebook and Instagram on my phone for 15, 20,30 minutes before I realised that after a bit of a tantrum Fynley resolved to sitting down in the corner of the room to play all by himself. This digital outlet has become an addiction, a replacement to real human connections and it has been stealing me from my son - or to put it more accurately, I let it suck me in. All it took is a little sit down with myself and a good think about the image I am projecting to my family. When I am on my iPad or phone Fynley desperately wants to play with whatever it is that is engaging my attention so strongly, so when I pull away, or say 'No' and continue swiping away at the screen far from his reach all he is getting from me is, 'Go away! You're annoying. Leave me alone. I have no time for your wants, needs or feelings. Entertain yourself. This device is more important than you.' After realising this, I felt sick. It is more than selfishness on my part as a parent, it is neglect. Although I don't do it all the time, and sometimes it is an important phone call or e-mail, it does absolutely eat up a lot of my time, and sometimes it can add up to 1.30 or 2 hours a day! We all do it, and if it isn't phones, iPads and laptops it's television or video games. But I am through with that. This is not what I signed up for when I became a parent, what I signed up for is to become the most caring, loving and positively-influential parent I can possibly be to my child and this is the first step towards that.
I realise that keeping a blog is not exactly 'plugging-out' but I intend on keeping this site going and to continue crafting and selling, although sans social media advertising I realise it will be harder. However, this is a tiny sacrifice for the well-being of my family.
Needless to say, I will now only post when Fynn is sleeping.
Oh, by the way, our little angel has learned how to walk <3
Tanya, Over and out.
In all seriousness however, this decision came out of my aim to protect my family and my sanity and to secure my almost one year old son a healthy, old-fashioned Childhood that involves minimal amounts of tech and a maximum amount of our attention and guidance.
Just a week ago I was so upset with myself, I have been browsing Facebook and Instagram on my phone for 15, 20,30 minutes before I realised that after a bit of a tantrum Fynley resolved to sitting down in the corner of the room to play all by himself. This digital outlet has become an addiction, a replacement to real human connections and it has been stealing me from my son - or to put it more accurately, I let it suck me in. All it took is a little sit down with myself and a good think about the image I am projecting to my family. When I am on my iPad or phone Fynley desperately wants to play with whatever it is that is engaging my attention so strongly, so when I pull away, or say 'No' and continue swiping away at the screen far from his reach all he is getting from me is, 'Go away! You're annoying. Leave me alone. I have no time for your wants, needs or feelings. Entertain yourself. This device is more important than you.' After realising this, I felt sick. It is more than selfishness on my part as a parent, it is neglect. Although I don't do it all the time, and sometimes it is an important phone call or e-mail, it does absolutely eat up a lot of my time, and sometimes it can add up to 1.30 or 2 hours a day! We all do it, and if it isn't phones, iPads and laptops it's television or video games. But I am through with that. This is not what I signed up for when I became a parent, what I signed up for is to become the most caring, loving and positively-influential parent I can possibly be to my child and this is the first step towards that.
I realise that keeping a blog is not exactly 'plugging-out' but I intend on keeping this site going and to continue crafting and selling, although sans social media advertising I realise it will be harder. However, this is a tiny sacrifice for the well-being of my family.
Needless to say, I will now only post when Fynn is sleeping.
Oh, by the way, our little angel has learned how to walk <3
Tanya, Over and out.
