“UHH MOM, YOU’RE SOO MEAN!” – that’s the first thing that comes out of my daughter’s mouth when I tell her it’s time to get off the computer (or the iPod, or the iPad, or the Kindle Fire, or the laptop….) She dirty looks me, and stomps off.
This turned into a daily, (or several times a day) occurrence. My husband took away her computer for a month after one of these fits – and after several days of complaints and “But MOMMM it’s SOO UNFAIR’s”, she started reading again. Playing with her sister & brother. She smiled. She back talked still, but not nearly as often.
I was soo proud. After the month I figured she learned her lesson and I started letting her use her computer again. Wow, she couldn’t believe she lived without stalking her friends Facebook page, or reading Taylor Swift’s tweets every 5 minutes!!!! She was soo happy to have it back.
But that was short lived.
The attitude was back. The huff’s, and foot stomping and door slamming was back…., and I’d had enough.
I made my way up to her room to confiscate her computer and iPod. I told her she was grounded again.
“How long this time Mom?” she whined as she followed me around the house for what felt like hours. “I don’t know yet”, was my first response, which turned into “until school starts again.” She was shocked, but she’s dealing with it. I love seeing her books out, and she’s actually – GASP – playing outside!
It’s been 6 weeks already, and though we have our moments, she is my sweet girl again. She will ask for her iPod back, to get online to ‘check something’, but I’ve held out. (Though I will get online with her if it’s something urgent, since school is still in session).
As for me? Though I am on the computer 8+ hours a day at work plus I do have some blogging/ and sweeping to do at night, my phone goes into sleep mode from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Those hours are reserved for my kids – we make dinner together, we play outside, we are a family again. I love technology, but I love not having it even more.
In fact, I love it so much I’m thinking the T.V. may be next to go!!!
