Monday, April 15, 2013

Can I get a rubber eraser app?

My kids are obsessed with technology. They play on the computer. They play on the iPhone. They play on the iPad.  The simplest pieces of plastic transform into pretend electronic gadgets.

Kids. How do they get these ideas?

According to Kelly McDonald, three marriage deal breakers of the 1960s were
1.  different race
2.  different religion
3.  inability to provide financially

Today marriage deal breakers are
1. lack of hygiene
2. talking about exes
3. constantly on phone or other mobile device.

Garret teased me that I'd be out of the running for marriage because of the last one.

What?  Me?

He wasn't kidding.
Would they make the cut in 2013?
I'm a part-time work-at-home mom.  I get the pleasure of being with my kids several days a week. But I still get emails from work.  And I check the messages. I also am a writer, and doing so involves computers. But it's not just work that occupies my techy-time. I make grocery lists. I take pictures.  I research recipes and child-friendly projects, and...and...

...they don't know that. They just see me with my hands wrapped around a hunk of technology.

McDonald mentioned that Generation Z, which apparently doesn't even encompass my little ones (there's no name for them yet), has fewer verbal skills than previous generations.

Why?

They text. They Facebook. They Instant Message. They don't talk on the phone.

Am I contributing to the death of the spoken language?

I don't want my children to think of me with my nose in a gadget. I want them to think of me looking in their eyes, singing songs, playing piano, 


















building cardboard spaceships, reading books,
 

playing sports, 
 
and picking "flowers."

I want them to remember that I loved them enough to model love and companionship and... verbal skills.

Now, more than ever, I'm making a conscious effort to go back to the basics. Like a rubber eraser. Maybe I'll start by writing notes on paper.  

Technology is a good thing.  But so are the basics. Face to face. You and me, baby.

My friend Lisa Marotta has a call to action on this topic.  I'm not ready for the power grid to go down completely, but I do plan to power off more often.
Oklahoma Women Bloggers handed out virtual rubber erasers this week. Skedaddle on over to see what other bloggers are erasing.

9 comments:

  1. but don't ever forget the good that comes from technology - like the ability to grow friendships on Facebook.

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    1. True! And I heard a wedding photographer yesterday say she suspects 70% of her brides met their grooms online.

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  2. It's so HARD! I'm slowly weaning myself off of 24/7 technology. One way I'm doing that is checking books out from the library. BOOKS. That means I'm not reading on my phone. It's a weird concept. ;) Great post, Brandi!

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    1. Thanks, Heather. I love books--the smell, the weight, the texture. I like the convenience of an e-reader, but I wonder if everything goes online what will happen if there is an epic technology failure. Will our civilization's Alexandria be a massive virus that hits the Internet? So, I applaud you for reading BOOKS!

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  3. Ah, I totally get this. It's so hard to disconnect ourselves from the devices and connect with what's most important...the real people in our life. My favorite eraser post so far! Great job!

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  4. I've been trying (with limited success) to be more intentional about a Technology Sabbath as it were. From sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday, I choose to cook, to clean, to spend time with people, to worship, to watch TV (I think my hubby's love language is old black & white westerns!), to invest in home, and family and in person friendships. Oh ... and to nap! Sunday afternoons are just made for naps! I think my life is better for it!

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    1. A "Technology Sabbath" is a wonderful idea!

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  5. Love the efficiency of technology - hate the divisiveness it can create with couples. I'm all for a return to the "gadget free meals" and "gadget free date" as I continue on my campaign to put myself out of the divorce business!

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    1. I was pleased last night when Max said he wanted to try something on the phone. I said, "You'll have to wait until after dinner." He said, "I know. I know. No electronics at the table." *sigh* Some things sink in.

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