Hey all.....Wow, I haven't written in our family blog since June. Ouch. Sorry about that. I've been so busy these past months keeping up with my Mirena Awareness blog (www.mylifeaftermirena.blogspot.com), that--between it and grad school--has made it more difficult to keep this one up as consistently. I'm sorry. I really will try to keep up better. Only four masters classes left!
I just wanted to get out the New Year's Resolution that I have set up for Team Lawrence. We are going to start doing what I call "Tech Free Tuesdays". Basically, it is just what it says....on Tuesdays, nobody in the house is allowed to use any technology for entertainment. No TV, no computer, no phone games, no kiddie handheld games....nothing. I want the kids to see how they can have a lot of fun without technology....and it isn't just for the kids. Eric and I have to abide by it as well. I can't go on the computer to check email, go on Facebook, nothing. The only time I am allowed on the computer on Tuesdays is if I have to post an assignment or take an online exam etc. on that day. Eric and I are only allowed to use our phones AS A PHONE if necessary. We can't go online or anything from our phones or text for "fun". That being said, we will still be answering our phone when called to make sure that everything is okay, etc.
Yesterday was our first "Tech Free Tuesday", and it was great! The kids and I spent the morning folding paper flowers, then we went to our friend Carrie's, then I took them to Yogurt Jungle, and then we came home to an afternoon of playing in the back yard--I'm talking T-Ball, playing catch, time in the sandbox, all sorts of games. Ava actually looked at me and said, "This is so cool! Tuesdays are my new favorite day." Wow.....so worth it. It actually teared me up. THAT is what I was hoping for.
Even when Eric got home, we still had to follow the new Tuesday rule (it took him a bit to wrap his mind around it, but then he agreed that it was something we should definitely do). We are so used to eating dinner, and then flipping on the television to decompress from the day. Last night, after supper, we got out some of our kids' boardgames and played that together as a family. After story time and putting the kids to bed, Eric and I--instead of flipping on the TV--actually each read a book that we have been wanting to read. We are already talking about how nice it will be to take technology off the table for one whole day each week (as far as how good we think it will be for our family). It forces us to focus on each other instead of making ourselves busy with the vast amount of technology with which we can busy our minds. Eric and I are already talking about actually taking time in the evening after putting kids down to sit out on the balcony outside our bedroom (which we NEVER use), and have a glass of wine and just "hang out" together. Which reminds me, I need to find our dominos....
After doing it for the first time yesterday, I have quickly realized how much of an adjustment that it is when it becomes so easy to let the kids play their games or watch TV for an hour while you work on dinner (all moms know that it is a break for us, too....but come on, how many toys do the kids have that they can play with?), or how easy it is for me to jump on the computer or my phone to check Facebook, my email or all sort of other internet wonders. The world has made it so easy and available...and yes, it can be wonderful....but I've gotten to the point where I really want to take one day a week to make a point to show that it isn't needed for a good day. Yesterday was definitely an effort to fill the day, and I was tired, but let me tell you....I was overjoyed. It was AMAZING.
When Ava was put to bed and I was walking out of her room, the last question was, "Mommy, how much longer until it is Tuesday again?"
Wow...I wish I would have thought of this sooner.... What a great day for all of us.
Think about it for your families??? You don't even need to have kids, you know. It's amazing what you can do with your day when technology is completely NOT an option (don't worry, all....you have six days where you get it back). I'll keep you updated on how it works for us, but I'm telling you, day one was busy...but productive and FANTASTIC!
I think Team Lawrence is on to something here..... :-)
I just wanted to get out the New Year's Resolution that I have set up for Team Lawrence. We are going to start doing what I call "Tech Free Tuesdays". Basically, it is just what it says....on Tuesdays, nobody in the house is allowed to use any technology for entertainment. No TV, no computer, no phone games, no kiddie handheld games....nothing. I want the kids to see how they can have a lot of fun without technology....and it isn't just for the kids. Eric and I have to abide by it as well. I can't go on the computer to check email, go on Facebook, nothing. The only time I am allowed on the computer on Tuesdays is if I have to post an assignment or take an online exam etc. on that day. Eric and I are only allowed to use our phones AS A PHONE if necessary. We can't go online or anything from our phones or text for "fun". That being said, we will still be answering our phone when called to make sure that everything is okay, etc.
Yesterday was our first "Tech Free Tuesday", and it was great! The kids and I spent the morning folding paper flowers, then we went to our friend Carrie's, then I took them to Yogurt Jungle, and then we came home to an afternoon of playing in the back yard--I'm talking T-Ball, playing catch, time in the sandbox, all sorts of games. Ava actually looked at me and said, "This is so cool! Tuesdays are my new favorite day." Wow.....so worth it. It actually teared me up. THAT is what I was hoping for.
Even when Eric got home, we still had to follow the new Tuesday rule (it took him a bit to wrap his mind around it, but then he agreed that it was something we should definitely do). We are so used to eating dinner, and then flipping on the television to decompress from the day. Last night, after supper, we got out some of our kids' boardgames and played that together as a family. After story time and putting the kids to bed, Eric and I--instead of flipping on the TV--actually each read a book that we have been wanting to read. We are already talking about how nice it will be to take technology off the table for one whole day each week (as far as how good we think it will be for our family). It forces us to focus on each other instead of making ourselves busy with the vast amount of technology with which we can busy our minds. Eric and I are already talking about actually taking time in the evening after putting kids down to sit out on the balcony outside our bedroom (which we NEVER use), and have a glass of wine and just "hang out" together. Which reminds me, I need to find our dominos....
After doing it for the first time yesterday, I have quickly realized how much of an adjustment that it is when it becomes so easy to let the kids play their games or watch TV for an hour while you work on dinner (all moms know that it is a break for us, too....but come on, how many toys do the kids have that they can play with?), or how easy it is for me to jump on the computer or my phone to check Facebook, my email or all sort of other internet wonders. The world has made it so easy and available...and yes, it can be wonderful....but I've gotten to the point where I really want to take one day a week to make a point to show that it isn't needed for a good day. Yesterday was definitely an effort to fill the day, and I was tired, but let me tell you....I was overjoyed. It was AMAZING.
When Ava was put to bed and I was walking out of her room, the last question was, "Mommy, how much longer until it is Tuesday again?"
Wow...I wish I would have thought of this sooner.... What a great day for all of us.
Think about it for your families??? You don't even need to have kids, you know. It's amazing what you can do with your day when technology is completely NOT an option (don't worry, all....you have six days where you get it back). I'll keep you updated on how it works for us, but I'm telling you, day one was busy...but productive and FANTASTIC!
I think Team Lawrence is on to something here..... :-)
