I have a little secret to share: I’m addicted to social media validation.
I crave my family to publicly declare my children as the most adorable on the planet. I want my distant Facebook acquaintances, whom I haven’t spoken to in a decade, to ponder why their kids aren’t reading yet while my 4-year-old is already mastering it. I need a steady stream of social media posts showcasing my kids’ bright smiles, enhanced by the most flattering filters Instagram has to offer.
What is wrong with me that I can’t savor a precious moment with my family without rushing to capture and broadcast it?
Naturally, this constant need for documentation diminishes the experience. While it may be nice to have a collection of lovely photos to show my adult children in 20 years, I fear that their only vivid memories will be of a camera-obsessed mother (think, “Max, I’ll trade you FIVE cookies if you can just smile for this picture with your sister!”).
I also worry that my kids will grow up with no recollection of life before screens. I dread that my little one is absorbing the world through the lens of silly YouTube videos while my partner and I remain glued to our devices. It feels like we are missing out on significant family moments because of our addiction to “iCrack.”
It’s Time for a Digital Detox
I’m proposing a full weekend without cameras, smartphones, tablets, or computers. For 48 hours, my family will disconnect completely and actually engage with one another. I bet my toddler will be bewildered by my absence of that shiny black device at my fingertips. I can only imagine how much more “interesting” my children will seem when I can’t tune them out with a quick game. Oh dear, what will I do while breastfeeding?! It can get so dull without scrolling!
I suspect my family is truly wonderful, and I’ve been missing out on that realization. My partner likely has fascinating insights and jokes I’ve long forgotten—after all, we didn’t rely on text messages to communicate back in 2005!
My kids are probably incredible, and I can appreciate that without needing the Internet to confirm my thoughts. There’s also a chance that if anything goes slightly awry, we can find solutions together without our trusty friend Google and thus, strengthen our family bond.
Maybe when this weekend wraps up, I can reassess my relationship with technology. Perhaps we can find a balanced place to coexist.
So, that’s the plan—marked on the calendar on the fridge, right after I snag this fantastic LivingSocial photo deal real quick…
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In summary, it’s time to embrace a tech-free weekend to reconnect with my family, rediscover their quirks, and foster deeper bonds without the distractions of screens.
Keyphrase: Digital Detox for Families
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