This is the view my family has of me…A LOT of the time. I’m either checking my phone or tablet.
I’ve had a few wake-up calls in the past week. Today I was in the pool with my daughter at swimming lessons and looked up to see many of the parents head down in their phones. It looked awful.
My husband told me I was “f***ing rude” when I whipped out my phone to check emails ( they are mostly junk anyway) and Twitter while we were having a coffee. It is rare we have a coffee together sans kids and I couldn’t even give him my full attention for the 20 minutes I had before I had to get back to work. He doesn’t do smartphones or Facebook or Twitter. He doesn’t get it. He thinks it’s ridiculous that the last thing I do before going to bed ( usually a good few hours after him) is check the news and other stuff.
And the worst thing? My daughter, who is just three, has more frequently been tugging at my arm saying “look at me, mummy” when I answer her without looking up from my phone.
That’s the kicker for me. I don’t want my kids to think that’s the norm – for their mum to be head down in her phone and tablet. I sure as hell would be pissed of if my husband did what I did – sat glued to the couch, engrossed in my technology.
I mean, I can explain away some of it: “Mummy is writing, that’s her job”, “I’m just checking the news/sending an email/tweeting because if I don’t keep up with social media I am irrelevant”.
Zoning out, however, for 10 minutes on Angry Birds while sitting in my wardrobe is a little less “work-related”!
So, I’m going to try my self-styled “Operation iDown” – an attempt to be far more present with my children and husband. I’ll put the iThings down more and keep the tech to a minimum when we are together.
I’m hoping it’s not such, in the words of Chicago, “a hard habit to break”.
Great post Emily. All I can say is yes, yes, yes!!!
Your blog post may well have been describing me. I have just agreed to stop using my iPhone for Facebook and weening myself off Twitter for iPhone. I waste too much time checking updates, the news .. blah .. blah .. blah. They are really just excuses.
So effective immediately no Facebook, Pinterest or G+ on the iPhone, Twitter will follow shortly afterwards.
Thank you for such a timely post.
I’m definitely due a detox from technology. Let me know how you go!
I relate to this completely. Even though I have this awareness of the issue and the goal to be present and not head down engrossed with the iPhone, it still happens! No self-control it seems.
In the morning I leave my phone in the bedroom and don’t touch it until after everything is done. Otherwise phone jumps into hand and Twitter has my almost full attention before I can even think about it. Then I’m asking the kids to shush bc of a link to a great article or blog. Not ok!
Point is that I have needed to establish strategies and ‘rules’, otherwise it’s just so easy to fall back in the habit.
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear if you have a similar experience and how you go:-)
Yes, I need rules. Great advice re leaving the phone down while doing jobs. I have to do that or else I get so distracted. Thanks for reading and commenting Donna.
You were describing my husband!! He is addicted to his ipad, he takes it everywhere…yep EVERYWHERE!!! On the odd occasion it is out of his hands, he is stretching his neck to check it! I am fairly up to date with technology & do love checking out facebook…but seriously people, does it need to be attached to you at all times….the messages will still be there later. Em, I am very pleased you are conducting your personal idown. I will be showing my husband your article – actually if I send him the link he is sure to read it quicker than if I tell him about it!!!