I am not immune to it’s draw, as I take the pic with my smart phone.  Jeremy, the one who loves new technology the most actually has the most self control.

Technology on our devices has been the easy answer.  I am sick of it’s control on my kids and myself.  I don’t want my default when I have a moment to pick up my phone or jump on my laptop.  Or as soon as we get in the car, “Mom, can I see your phone?” or when Dad walks through the door after working all day, “Dad, can I see the ipad?”  We slipped into using these a lot while waiting to move into our new house these last 5 weeks.  It was an easy choice with most their toys packed up and not having a space of their own.

But I am reversing the trend.  I realize if I am going to set limits on my kids then I need to limit myself.  Whatever I give them- I give myself.  My role in ministry requires email use but still that can be limited to 30 minutes a day.  I would prefer that be when they are asleep.  I don’t want them to always see me on a device (texting, laptop, etc).  So I want to email or write on my blog in the wee morning hours 🙂 or for a few minutes after they are tucked in.

I considered using ipads during the day for some of our homeschool time but I know I can find other ways to teach them that requires my presence.  I know myself,  I give a certain time limit but then I get busy so 15 turns into an hour or more.  I am weary of feeling like they are hooked.  Check out this free website to bring adventure back to your family.  Especially watch the video link by the founder, so good, it totally hit home for me.  It made me realize THAT MY KIDS ARE TURNING TO DEVICES FOR ADVENTURE.  And that is not ok with me.  An occasional time, like maybe 15 minutes after dinner may work for our family.  I don’t recommend it for all families but I think that is what I want for us.  And still fun cartoons during the day like 30 minutes? Devices and Tv do provide a welcomed rest and quiet.  Check out this stay at home mom’s way to nap daily.

We slipped into just existing, mediocrity.  Even our Sabbaths (Be Refreshed) had been reduced to hours of Netflix or youtube toy reviews.

 I want to stop pinning and do one of my 2,000 pins. (not stop pinning completely but more doing than pinning, I enjoy it too much- it like subscribing to all your favorite magazines)

I want to limit Facebook, totally life sucking/time sucking.  I want to stop reading about other’s lives and adventures and live our own.

Social media, twitter, instagram are all not bad but I want to limit my time there and spend my time embracing the story I was meant to live. 🙂

LIFE IS MORE THAN SOCIAL MEDIA.  

I want:

• adventures
• awesome memories
• to get dirty
• to be silly
• to have dance parties with my family (that’s how my introverted heart works 🙂
• to play games
• to explore God’s creation
• lots of reading
• reading to my kids, with my kids with lots and lots of great books
• more baking
• to build sandcastles at the beach, lake and backyard
• smores over a firepit at the beach, mountains and backyard
• stargazing
• playing in the rain (parents included)
• mud pies (parents included on any of these makes it more fun- us adults are too serious)
• mud fights
• geocaching
• catching fireflys
• blanket forts
• more tickling and giggling
• more Walt Disney Kids music on pandora
• to use my black light more for glowing fun
• more camping at the beach, in the forest, in the backyard
• to build a treehouse
• more make believe
• more hikes
• canoeing
• fishing
• crafts
• hours of lego building
• creative Family Fun Nights (at least once a month, like Cowboy Night)