This is the Universe Telling Me: Put Down My Phone

I came across two mom blog sites today that essentially have the same message: BE MORE ATTENTIVE.

In being a Mom. In being a Wife/Sister/Daughter/Friend.

In being ALIVE.

Not too long ago, my two-year-old son called me out at bedtime…these being his exact words:

“Mommey, turn the phone OFF.” (Emphasis his.)

Amused, because I just HAD TO update my Facebook status about this right at that moment (which I did), my son adds…

“Mommey, GIVE ME the phone.” (Emphasis his again.)

I found it funny and laughed it off at that time. Even my family and friends on Facebook found it amusing.

But at the same time, I could not help but feel a tinge of guilt as well.

Those are the words that came out of a boy’s mouth–a boy, who, from the moment he was born, shared his parents’ attention with the iPhone, the computer logged on to Facebook–playing Farmville or some other game–or viewing countless YouTube videos, the video game console that is played until the wee hours of the morning, and other smart hand-held devices that exist in the home…all of these taking away from quality time we could have spent pouring over him, and him alone, creating many, many more moments he’ll remember once he’s grown.

Don’t get me wrong…we do create those moments of undivided attention. It’s just not as easy or effortless. It’s a constantly connected world we live in. And our children are slowly but surely being immersed in all these technology. There’s nothing wrong with using them…it’s finding those moments to TUNE OUT so you can TUNE IN to your child that are hard.

I think the only way to do it, is really, to TURN. IT. OFF.

Not just for a few minutes. Not even just for an hour.

Try to disconnect yourself from your TV/phone/other mobile device for a really long and dedicated amount of time (at least two hours) and connect–really connect–yourself. To your child. Your husband. Your family.

Bond. Snuggle. Cuddle. Talk.

Make paintings. Play a game. Sing a song. Take a walk.

The things you can do to really put yourself out there and be totally Hands Free and Awesomely Awake, especially for your kid, are really moments to be cherished (both by you and those you love).

Put the phone down.

Give it a try.

You’ll see.

"Mommey, turn the phone OFF."

My Thoughts on Backblogging

I am lying in bed when I got the sudden urge to look at old photos in my Facebook account, specifically those in my mobile uploads album. It’s really micro-blogging at its easiest and simplest form if you think about it. Snap a photo, upload it with a few words, and presto! The whole world is instantly updated on the latest about your life.

I especially enjoyed looking back at my mobile updates about Miguel. The bits and pieces of memories I posted here and there on my wall help me go back to that point in time and reminisce about that moment.

I am glad for the times I made use of the mobile status update; there’s no way I’d have preserved those little moments otherwise–of Miggz trying on his first pair of shoes, or him playing on his bounce-a-bout, or his Dad and him hanging out on our porch at Apt. 3217.

I wish every moment now that I had time to blog about all those precious little events and milestones back then, about the story of Miguel’s birth, of him growing up in his first year in New Jersey. I tried…it was just SO hard. With being a working Mamma and coming home to Miguel at night, blogging as much as I wanted to was something time did not permit me. At the end of the day, I simply chose to sleep (whay can I say, exhaustion got the best of me).

But I am determined to write about what transpired, especially events in my first year of being a Mom. I may not have had all the time to write about them then–but I do now–so backblog I will do.

If time permits.