Monday
Mar222010
I Realised Something Today
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 12:14AM 
Or should that be made to realise?
I haven't been spending enough time with the boys during the day. They NEED me to play with them more, and instead, I'd been spending time online. BAD MOTHER.
Today I didn't touch the computer till after the boys were in bed.
Oh! My! God!
The difference in them was amazing!
I felt much calmer because I wasn't feeling pulled in so many different directions all at once, or feeling guilty that I should be doing something else.
Zack wasn't being a naughty little git, he was happy because... shock horror... I was spending time with him.
Max and I had *so* much fun playing with a table mat of all things!
I must have sat on that kitchen floor putting it on my head and letting it fall off for about an hour. He found it absolutely hilarious, and... AND(!!!)... he started saying "I got it!" whenever he managed to catch it. His own little way of saying it, but still - he was saying it!
Zack and I had a great time playing with the bongo drum that we have (thank you Dean's big sis, we love his birthday pressie! hehe) and had such a laugh making different beats up, banging it in time to nursery rhymes, and generally just being very noisy.
We played that "trust" game. You know the one where you have to let yourself fall backwards and trust that you'll be caught? He loved it. Not only will he trust me to catch him, he now trusts Dean too. I was so teary eyed when he finally let himself fall back for Dean to catch him. Of course it then included lifting him up and spinning him around in circles! ;)
We had a great day today, all because I wasn't always nipping back to the damn computer all day long.
I think I'm going to try to stay away from online stuff until they're in bed from now on.
As soon as I go on just to check something little it ends up leading to something else and something else after that... you know how it goes, right?
So from now on, if you see me online before my kids should be in bed - shoo me away, ok?
Life is much better when I'm actually living it instead of constantly checking up on what's going on in my online world.
Reader Comments (20)
It is amazing isn't it? I've been trying to stay off my computer in the evenings after work and play with the kids and it does make such a difference. They just eat it up. Good for you. I hear it said all the time, but we can't ever get this time back (when they are young). It's hard because there is so much we give of ourselves when we have little ones, but they really do crave our time and attention--lots. xoxo
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZZbW/~3/iVXvjo2MotA/readers-i-want-to-do.html" rel="nofollow">Readers I want to do =-.
A to the Men, Marilyn. I've been *trying* to do that myself. That is why I am no longer that active on Twitter. That place is sooo addictive, it sucks you right in. Also, I don't blog on weekends. It's our family time. No excuses whatsoever.
So here's to us *trying* our best to be good mums. Clink.
yay :) Sounds like you've had a lot of fun! I'm very jealous of your bongo drums, I've always wanted some!
.-= Priness_L_88´s last blog ..http://livileah88.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/raindrops-on-roses/" rel="nofollow">Raindrops on Roses =-.
I've been doing the same thing too, more time playing and less time blogging. Of course my writing is suffering and I doubt very much I'll have anything together for the submissions at the end of the month. Actually, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Meh, it'll all be okay.
I made it over here!
I am the same, I'm ont he computer right now and Emily is underneath me, pulling out all of the computer games and disks. I found straight after she was born that when she went to bed I would hop online as some 'Me' time and a relaxer just before bed :-)
So very true - she says sitting here at the breakfast table reading your blog :)
.-= MrsW´s last blog ..http://clinicallyfedup.com/?p=2833" rel="nofollow">iHeartFaces – Angles =-.
It's bad how hard I find it to stay away from the computer... that's all I'm sayin! lol :)
Like you say - it's only a few years before they'll *not* want our attention all the time, so best to make the most of it, even when it does include cleaning up a living room and 2yr old covered in peanut butter! ;)
Yeah I've taken to not really blogging at the weekends - it's just sort of worked out that way, although I do end up catching up on other people's blogs then... ;)
We sure did! They're my other half's drums - he's got more in storage at the mo... think it's gonna be a noisy summer! hehe :)
I know what you mean. I want to be spending time online, but I've gotta be realistic and *not*, no matter how much I want to! It's tough... I'm addicted. >_<
That's exactly how it is for me too! 5 years of doing that is hard to curb... and I find myself online more and more during the day. Not on! >_<
LOL! I'm only replying at the moment cause Zack's at nursery and Max is napping... ;)
What a great reminder! I'm guilty of way too much online time too...I'll stop as soon as I leave this comment!
.-= wayoutnumbered´s last blog ..http://way-outnumbered.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-favorite-weekend.html" rel="nofollow">My Favorite Weekend =-.
It's hard to stay away sometimes isn't it! >_<
Very well said! I am sure your boys will benefit immensely from your decision!
.-= Krissa´s last blog ..http://www.halfasstic.com/2010/03/happiness/" rel="nofollow">Happiness =-.
They are already - Zack isn't misbehaving because he's already got my attention. :)
You're so right.
I hadn't really thought about it but I should really be playing with them, not pottering around in my reader.
The girl starts school in September - I'll have more time then!
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..http://bsouth.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/note-to-self/" rel="nofollow">Note To Self =-.
It's hard not to go on the computer during the day... I've taken to going on while Max is napping and Zack's at nursery. ;)
I can't wait till Zack starts school in august... I will be freeeee! (sort of, except for having max about). ;)
Eeek, raises a guilty hand. In my defence I do a lot of computer stuff with my two year old, genuine teaching stuff aswell as fun stuff. He is a complete computer nerd (as am I lol). He can only attempt a few words right now and one of them is 'google'. Thats my excuse and I am sticking to it :D:D:D You have a point and definitely one I am guilty of myself. Jen.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..http://thekingandeye.blogspot.com/2010/03/happiness-every-day.html" rel="nofollow">Happiness, Every Day. =-.
Aww bless, that's great! I show Max anything on the computer and he pretends to type on it, but that's about it... although he does love watching clips from cbeebies on there. Zack is our resident computer geek - he's scarily good at almost all things Nintendo considering he's only 4 and a half!
He thinks what I do on the computer is boring though and I should play his games instead cause they're more fun, lol! :)