Feeling Convicted. This Momma is Guilty!

I saw this article titled “How to Miss a Childhood” someone posted on Facebook and knew I had to read it and more importantly share it.   

Between my desire to talk to friends, family, and my need to chat with my Thirty-One team members, hostesses, and customers, I am on the phone.  A LOT.  Not just talking on the phone.  Checking email, texts, Facebook messages, etc. 

Hayden has started asking me…“Momma, you talking to?”  “What did she need?”

And has even said…“Mom, put your phone down.” This happened when I was driving and texting. How did he know this is not ok? Yep, not a proud moment. Guilty.

The iPhone is one amazing tool.  Yet, might be the tool that makes me miss out on my sweet baby boy’s childhood and precious time with my hubby.  I am feeling quite convicted after reading this article. 

So, what can I do about it?  I mean, I am a stay at home mom that loves to talk  and be social and has a business to run.  But, my purpose of staying home with my sweet boy is to love on him, teach him right from wrong, instill manners and respect for others, most of all SPEND TIME WITH HIM.  I may be with him almost 24/7, but I am not always WITH him.  

I certainly don’t want him to grow up thinking it is ok to be talking on the phone, texting all the time, or have an iPod in his ear while ignoring me.  To be more attached to a device than his desire to spend time with me?  But, am I teaching him that those things are ok?

The author the article wrote this on her side bar…

“I am going hands-free.  I want to make memories, not to-do lists.  I want to feel the squeeze of my daughters arms, not the pressure of over-commitment.  I want to get lost in conversation with my spouse, not consumed with a sea of unimportant emails.  I want to be overwhelmed by sunsets that give me hope, not by extra curricular commitments that steal my joy.  I want the  noise of my life to be a mixture of laughter and gratitude, not the intrusive buzz of cell phones and text messages.  I am letting go of distraction, disconnection, and perfection to live a life that simply, so very simply, consists of what really matters.”

I am a realist.  I understand that living without my cell phone/computer is not going to happen.   I know I am not a “bad mom”.  I do spend a lot of time playing, conversing with, and loving on Hayden.  But, I am also going to make it a priority to stop justifying the use of those items and be committed to not miss out on any of life’s moments. 

I just wanted to share.  I hope you will read the article.  I hope that if you are like me and rely on your “device” of choice, that you will be more aware of the time it takes away from your family.  I certainly don’t want my friends and family to start avoiding me by not calling me, but it is all the unnecessary time I spend on the phone that has to give. 

This is the Mother’s Day present I AM GIVING to my family.