Time

We live in a world that prides itself for being "connected".  Most adults have at least one smart phone, tablet, ipod, laptop ect these days.  We are constantly being interrupted by sounds and alarms, and ring tones.  We are being pulled in 20 different directions all because of technology.  Is it really helping us stay connected??

I read a few different articles lately that really caught my eye.  All the talk about electronics and how they are taking over our everyday lives with out us even knowing.  Have you ever glanced around a restaurant lately.  Watching a family eat a meal together is not the same any more.  You see at least a few if not all with there cell phones in hand and there thumbs at work, connecting with people that arn't even at the meal.   We have allowed our hearts to become unglued from the real people in our lives. Or how about when you are talking with a friend, and right in the middle of a story that friends cell phone beeps, and they don't wait till your done talking, they grab there phone, completely interrupt you, start reading there new message they got then they reply, and completely forget you were even talking.  I've had that happen to me numerous times and the person doesn't even notice because that cell phone has them completely addicted to it.  Its truly sad.  Sad that people reply on these devices now a day.  Sad that no one calls anyone any more and its all threw a text or facebook.  How many birthday invites the kids have got on facebook, or threw a text.  Or even a happy birthday threw facebook or a text.  No one calls and talks in person anymore.

But the sad thing is, how its taking our time up, instead of the time we should be giving to our children.  As moms we need to make sure that our children know they come first in our hearts, in our minds, and in our lives.  When we are constantly glancing at them over a shiny gadget, love is not the message we communicate.  We should behold our children as the apples of our eyes.  And too often we give them a distracted "in a minute" response, or not even respond and they say "never mind!" while we are answering a text or email.  Our children have the right to expect the undivided attention of there momma's.  We need to reassure our kids that they are a million times more important than anything that could flash across the screen of our gadgets.

Obviously technology does have its place at times, as I'm writing this blog on my computer.  But I chose to do it, as my kids are on the school bus and Brynlee is still asleep. I obviously myself own a smart phone and know the distraction it can lead to.  That's why I've went off facebook, because God has given me a new baby to love and cuddle and teach and raise for His glory, and I'm choosing to make this baby and my 3 other kids my priority, above social networking and "connectedness".  Its sad when you see a parent hand there 2 or 5yr old or whatever age a cell phone, ipod or ipad.  And oh how cute it is that they know how to use it.  Quite frankly its not cute, its very sad.  Our children have never been handed our cell phones to shut them up.  We don't live on ipods or our Wii or our computer.  We don't even have a dvd player in our vehicle, we listen to the constant fights or "I'm bored", or "what can I do", and we just tell them to look out the window like we all did as kids.  I want my kids to grow up not relying on a gadget in there face.  Its sad when you see families all on a gadgets, losing out on family time.  Losing out on the precious moments they could be spending with there children.  What happened to imaginations?? What happened to bike rides, and walks, and games around the table??  In our home we continue it. We try and have family moments as often as we can.  We go out side and play baseball and watch them on the play set, or ride bikes together or quad rides and walks.  My kids have huge imaginations.  They build forts and play house and doctor and restaurant.

People seem to forget that the ones closest to us are the ones suffering.  Trust me, Ive had days myself where my kids would say "mom stop texting already", and its sad that I wasn't giving my full attention to them,  but yet I was on face book or was to someone else.  That's why I've chosen to put my cell aside, and do my business on there when kids are asleep, or busy themselves with school or other activities.  We have chosen that our children come first over a device.  And you may think you have yourself, but have you really??  Our parents didn't have facebook, or twitter or all the things the world has to offer now, and they survived.  Yet so many people don't think they can without being connected.

Gadgets can be great tools, but all to often they become devices that steal one of the most precious and irreplaceable commodities that we are given...TIME!!!

Our children are only with us for a very short time.  And if we spend most of that time with our eyes glued to our devices, rather than on them, we are in danger of severing one of the most precious gifts God has given to us as parents, the hearts of our children!!