Birth & Parenting, Podcasting & Retreats
  • A. Swift Welcome

Kids and Screens

10/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I had the guilt.  The gut-suck of judgement about how, when, and why I would/could/should let my young daughter use devices with screens.  Technology.  There are entire parenting books devoted to how to parent with or without technology...I didn't read them.  I already knew my parenting philosophy and I was failing at it. 

I was embarrassed my daughter knew how to unlock my phone.  I was embarrassed my daughter asked to play with my  e-reader.  "Mom, Harper watch show?"  I was THAT parent. 

But you know what?  I'm not a perfect parent, and neither are you. It feels good to admit it. 

I kick ass pretty often, but I am also human and need a break.  I can have a dance party, play make believe, color pictures, have a tea party, use dinosaur stickers, and read books for days, but there is joy is sitting and watching something that is beautiful and joyful, and I admit, I let my her have...gasp...screen time.

While I was busy damning the existence of screens and children's programming, I rarely took time to see its value. 

And then I went on a trip for work.  Right now I am in New York state, and my daughter is home in Chicago.  I am stretching and growing my business and there are going to be some exciting things that come from this time (watch out).  This trip as been the only time I have Skyped with my daughter where we were on opposite sides of the screen, and we weren't trying to talk with family we hardly see. (Hey, Auntie C!) 

And it was wonderful.  She knows how to do this.  She knows that for me to see her, she needs to put the screen just right.  She knows that if she wants to show me something, she has to make sure it fits in the little window, and she knows because of this, that I am still around and I am coming home. 

Technology is not evil.  Technology is cool!  There are other things that are cool too - like helping me make dinner, going for a scooter adventure, and playing, one of Harp's favorite games, "Rawr, Eek!"  But I have to admit that I feel less gut-suck tonight.  I feel less guilt and a HUGE appreciation of technology, wifi signals, and Skype. 

 I'm giving myself, and you, permission to lighten up about this.  Our kids are great kids.  They are going to be ok. 

Authored by A Swift Doula



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    October 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    August 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Baby
    Babywearing
    Birth
    Birth Annoucement
    Birth Doula
    Books
    Breastfeeding
    Chicago
    Courage
    Dads
    Decisions
    Depression
    Doula
    Due Dates
    Events
    Fathers
    Food
    Get Connected
    Get Out
    Holidays
    Instagram
    Internet
    IVF
    Jill Of All Trades
    Labor
    Legacy
    Lets Talk About It
    Littles
    Magic
    Mommy Wars
    Motherhood
    Mother's
    Not Alone
    Parenting
    Penny Simkin
    Placenta
    Postdate
    Postpartum Doula
    Prodoula
    Real Life
    Sleep
    TLDG
    Todder
    Tools
    Video
    Weaning
    Wee Ones
    Where To Go
    Writing



    RSS Feed

CONTACT

HOME