Technology is everywhere in our lives. No one makes it through a day without at least seeing a screen, and most people interact with different screens all day long. Even as I’m writing this article, I’m looking at a screen (I tried to use a typewriter and deliver my stories via carrier pigeon, but my boss didn’t appreciate that idea so much). Parents often wonder how technology affects their lives and their children’s lives. Brandie is one of those parents. She is the mother of two young, twin boys.
The happy family lives in Lakeside, California. Brandie started to get curious about how the technology in her life was affecting her relationship with her boy, Blaine and Rylie. She began noticing that she would be on her phone frequently while her boys were off playing and doing their own things. Brandie started wondering if social media and other bits of technology were negatively affecting her ability to be a good mother to her two four year old boys. So, Brandie decided to do an experiment.
“Today I did an experiment, I watched my boys play. As I sat quietly in the corner of the room I tallied how many times they looked at me for various reasons: to see if I saw their cool tricks, to seek approval or disapproval for what they were doing, and to watch my reactions. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was on some sort of technology what message would I have been sending?”
“28 times my angels would have wondered if the World Wide Web was more important than them. 28 times my boys would have not received the attention most adults are searching for. 28 times my loves would have questioned if they were alone emotionally. 28 times my kids would have been reassured that who you are online is what really matters.”
“In a world where we are accepted as who people perceive us to be and not who we really are, in a world where validation comes from how many followers or likes we have, in a world where quality time with loved ones is being replaced by isolation and text messages from the other room, I beg you to be different.” “Please put down your technology and spend some time with your family & loved ones.
The next generation of children is counting on us to teach them how to be adults, don’t be too busy on social media, you never know who is watching and what message you are sending.” After getting such a huge number, Brandie took to the Internet and begged parents to focus on their kids instead of their screens. Share away, people!
