Electronics for Kids

My kids are playing on the computer and watching youtube and more.  I don't like it, but what can I do about it?  I don't think it's good, but what proof do I have?  When I do take electronics away for a time, life is so much nicer at home.  Can I just say, "No more electronics."?  Yes, I can.  

Here are a couple podcasts to give you a good footing to say just that.

for kids - https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast-1/episode/c33b63fa/healthy-screen-time-habits-for-kids-podcast-534

for teens - https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast-1/episode/bc897dcc/healthy-screen-time-habits-for-teens-podcast-535

I ended up listening to the one for kids while my children were in the car.  My teenage boy turns to me and tells me that he wants me to stop listening to this.  He proceeds to tell me that he will probably use this when he has children.  Score!!!  My son already understands.  I decided to listen to the teen one on our next drive.  Then at the beginning of school this year, I informed them that electronics were not be allowed during the school week except for school use.

Now what to do for the breaks.  I just need to have a back bone and not back down.

A Time for Work and a Time for "Home" Work

Well, a new school year is upon us.  

I taught for ten years in the public schools before stepping into motherhood full time.  During my last year of teaching, I weighed the pros and cons of homeschooling.  I could only come up with one con for homeschooling, and that is, I would not have any time to myself.  I decided I could be "selfless" for eighteen plus years.  

Yikes!!!  What did I get myself into!  Don't get me wrong...  I thoroughly enjoy teaching my children and building a relationship with each of them.  But sometimes it would be nice to leave my "job" at work and come home to "home" work.  Well, I am putting that into place this year.  There is a time for teaching, a time for grading, and a time for tutoring.  If you try to get me to do "work" during my time of rest or "home" work, I say, "Plan better next time."  It doesn't always work, but it is working MUCH better this year.

Embrace the Want

A few days ago, my husband said something and left the room.  I immediately started bawling.  I mean, I was sobbing.  I couldn't figure out who I was.  I don't cry over hurt feelings.  He didn't even say anything bad; he just told me he was going to get a pizza for lunch.  I was so hurt, I actually thought about telling him I wasn't going to go to a wedding that afternoon.

About an hour later, I went into our room and decided to veg.  I didn't want to think of anything.  I watched a show I was able to get lost in.  After the first episode ended, I was fine.  I wasn't hurt.  I definitely wasn't crying.  Who was that girl?!  Then it hit me.  I was stressed.  I allowed too much stress in my life.  

On our way to the wedding, I told my husband about the incident and explained that it was due to stress.  So he told me to think of things that are stressing me out and take out the least important things.  I almost immediately respond, "I could get rid of the kids."  Obviously, that is NOT going to happen.  But most of what stresses me out has to do with them.  So what am I supposed to do?

I listed different things, but a lot of those things I "need" to do.  The things I could give up, I don't want to.  I find joy in them for the most part.  So he told me to embrace the "want."   Huh?!  The want?!  Yes, I want to do things that are adding to my stress, so embrace it.  Ok.  That actually makes sense.  Kind of 🤣

So here is to embracing "The Want."