Smart Home: Candyland comes before Twitter

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I admit it, I’m addicted to my smart phone (iPhone.) Sometimes it’s out of hand. I’ve been like this for a long time.  I remember my old little Samsung flip phone back in 2001, which I could use to check my email and play basic trivia games.  I felt very techy as I would check my email at the mall.  Now, I can’t even imagine not checking all forms of social media while in line at Publix.
On a typical day I check my email, FB and TweetDeck every 5 minutes, sometimes even more often. Honestly, I typically go through an hour without even receiving new email or a Tweet that effects me, but, that certainly doesn’t keep me from continuing my fanatic refresh of my phone.

Yes, there are moments where I’m not as fanatic.  Those times I’m most happy.  It’s like the stress of checking in is gone, and I can totally focus on something else.  We were at a water park a few weeks ago and I obviously couldn’t walk around checking my updates. I left my phone in my bag for over an hour as I had the time of my life with my daughter and friends.  When I finally returned to it, 2 things happened.  #1, I realized that the world did not end because I hadn’t been online. #2, I smiled with exhaustion from the last hour and put the phone back in my bag and ran off with the little one again.
So what I realize is that when I have the opportunity to have the phone with me, I’ll use it constantly.  But, I can survive if I can’t (movies, waterpark/beach, airplane…).  However, I do see a potential breakdown if the reason of not having my phone accessible was not my choice, for example if I lost it, the service was down or something of the sort.  Then, by all means I would probably be raging!

So what is a Smart Mama to do?  What is excessive SmartPhone usage? In my eyes, when it interferes with family time.  When you check Twitter rather than play CandyLand.  Or you check Twitter WHILE playing Candyland.  But as I say this I don’t completely agree with myself.  Technology is now an integral part of our lives. Our lives depend on continuous connection to the Internet.  We expect an email to receive a  response within hours, far shorter than the weeks a letter by snail mail would.  I think what’s most important as Smart Mamas is that our children, and husband’s of course, never feel that they are less important than the social media check. Candyland comes before Twitter.

This post was inspired by a blog posting on BitMoms.com http://www.bitmoms.com/profiles/blogs/im-not-as-addicted-as-i

If you haven’t join BitMoms yet, be sure to do so soon!  It’s a super resource for moms on all things technology.

Also, see how you can win a copy of Bit Defender on Chief Bit Mom, a.k.a. TechSavvyMama, guest post:  http://smartypantsmama.com/2010/06/smart-home-bitmoms-a-smart-mom-resource-for-online-safety/

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5 thoughts on “Smart Home: Candyland comes before Twitter

  1. What a great BitMoms inspired post! You raise a good point about finding the balance between being connected and drawing the line and enjoying family time. I think this is something that we all struggle with at least a little bit since we live in such a wired world!

  2. This is such a great post! I am right there with you. My iPhone is attached to my hip, or my netbook. I have been so guilty of playing Zooreka and constantly checking Tweet Deck. Such a balance to find.

    1. Thanks Christina! I’m pretty ridiculous with my iphone. I think I would get the shakes if I was somewhere without service for too long! As moms though we need to find time to put it down and play some Candyland! Thanks for becoming a new reader!

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