As a mom in today's world I often feel smothered, judged, and consumed. I'm a stay at home mom yet my time is consumed with social media; blogging, Instagram posting, FB'ing to follow the latest trends. I'm always making sure I'm on top of things and dreaming of my kids have the newest, cute clothes and the latest limited edition cloth diaper and name brand baby products. Tonight I read a blog a mom wrote that was about how social media is making her a bad mother, not living in the moment, and most of all she was neglecting the things that mattered most... her kids.
Here - read it. It's amazing!! http://www.babble.com/mom/computer-addiction-internet-time-with-kids/
I couldn't have written the blog better myself - it's like she was me, in my shoes, in my house with the laptop being next to the couch... I mean, come on! Seriously, it was my life in a nutshell. And, it was awful looking at it that way. It shed some light on what I've known for a long time. Social media and I have a love hate relationship. It's bad. I feel bad knowing that in the morning I catch up on the latest posts while drinking coffee and Lennon watches the iPad... But then an hour goes by and Kelly & Michael is on tv so guess what? I'm consumed. I feel bad that yesterday L asked me at least 5 times to play CandyLand with her and every single time I had a reason why I couldn't. Today I was on my phone everytime London was nursing instead of watching her, starring at her and just taking in the beauty of motherhood. I think what hit me the hardest was she said she was a slave to social media... Interacting with many people on any given day but neglecting the two that mattered most...
Last year I posted a blog just before Lent about what the next 40 days had in store for me. I vowed to do quite a few things... Read the Bible more, instead of logging onto FB and IG and Pinterest in the mornings log onto the Bible app to read about he verse of the day or better yet... Open a Bible! Pray with Lennon every night and read the Bible with her, put the phones and computers away at night, thank God daily for what he's given us and stop complaining for what I don't have. Too many things on that list revolve around social media. The problem is... I went back to my old, toxic ways right after lent. I was begging for it to be over... Why? To stalk Nickis Diapers for the latest release?, to browse my "friends" Facebook pages of them partying, complaining about life or binge watching Netflix shows? Who cares... I would 100% rather watch my kids play, laugh, learn and enjoy life with them. I would rather text and call my friends than read about their lives on FB. I would rather have my family come see my kids than ask how they're doing on FB. My best friend is encouraging, she's been spending more time with her kids and making sure we still have time for each other. Our chats have been amazing, how to be better moms and be more present with our kids. Simplifying our lives, less clutter and less mess. We have learned to be moms these past few years and it's changed us for the best.
This year I'm making it a promise to myself and my husband, my kids and my family to be more present. Not just over lent but over the entire year to change my lifestyle. No more hour long Facebook sessions just because I'm stuck nursing or laying with Lennon at nap time, no more IG all night while I'm nursing London to sleep. Instead, I'll embrace the cuddles, stare at London while she's nursing, kiss her cheeks, watch movies with my husband at night, chat with him about real things and not stupid-funny Facebook memes. I will start to read the Bible more this year with my family and not just on the weekends at church. It begins with a simple X. X to close out the apps on my phone I frequent most and putting my computer away... After all, I only use it to chat on FB when my thumbs get tired on my phone. Lazyyyyy. But, most of all I need to be a better mom, a better wife and a better me. It starts now... Cheers to my 40 days, and making them count forever.
This . Is. Everything.
Off to spend time with these little bundles of joy!
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