I know it seems innocent enough. Entertainment at our finger tips, where and whenever we want it. It’s causing this wild shift in the culture of social experience. And I wonder what Alice’s world will be like in 10 years, or 20 years, or 30 years, when she might be a mommy too.
Today I went to the car wash. All the adults were sitting, eyes inches from their phones. Completely distracted, completely detached from the here and now. Only one person was interacting with the world at large… Watching, observing, talking, asking questions, excited, playful, engaged.
A little boy.
Of course, a child. This is his natural disposition, to explore, to self-create, to imagine. Until one of the adults in his life decides he’s too loud, or demands too much attention- and sticks a little colorful screen in front of him. Maybe it’s not as dismal as all this, or as black and white as it seems. As a parent, it makes me reflect on my habits. Lots of bad ones. The example I’m setting. Not all good. I could definitely make improvements.
So how do I make a change? I have some ideas…and I’m curious to know what others of you are doing to “unplug.”
Life is already going by fast enough…I don’t want to miss this part of her childhood.
Whatever I can do to be more present when I’m with her, when I’m with Ken, when I’m with people. Because, truthfully, if I don’t check instagram for a few days my world won’t suffer and things won’t change…except my own experience and my very real relationships will be more fulfilled and have more depth. With those kind of tangible experiences I find my craft and my creativity grows. My designs become more free, less influenced, more directly from me.
Maybe this is coming off as a boring rant…oh well.
If not, maybe you feel like you could change your habits too.
Encourage paper reading, handwriting in journals, passing notes, daydreaming, doodling, dancing like crazy, painting with your fingers, looking out the window, watching the world go by, digging in the dirt, swinging in a swing, the occasional cartwheel, running fast thru the grass – shoes off! It’s ok to leave your phone at home. It’s ok to stop looking at blogs. They’ll be there later.
The flipside: The internet and all these little new ways of interacting have been good for me too. I can’t deny that. I find inspiration there, make new friends, reconnect with people I have lost touch with over time, discover places and art I never would see otherwise,and keep this on-again-off-again journal.
This little screen and its kaleidoscope of windows into other people’s lives…can be so wonderful and alternately it can be such a rabbit hole.
I have mixed feelings. I’m curious how others of you feel?
Some of our recent real life happenings here….
Get the chickens. We have 5 girls and the kids love them. Only 2 bad things can really happen to chickens. 1. racoons. preventable. 2. mites. rarely happens and they loose a bunch of feathers but eventually goes away with a few dustings of insect control dust… but really they are wonderful to have and really easy to keep. They are very friendly too, especially the bantam ones when hand fed and given lots of attention. The neighbors won’t mind feeding them when you are gone, they will find it fun and facinating. ok, that’s probably enough said now.