I was browsing through Kludgy Mom’s idea bank tonight & came across one that says to write about what you think is the worst technological invention ever.
Ironically, I would say it’s the internet.
The internet is the place where pregnant women start Googling the signs of miscarriage and convince themselves that they’ve had one because they haven’t been experiencing any “normal” pregnancy symptoms and they call their mothers weeping uncontrollably because “there was this woman *sob* on the internet *sob* said that she was having the same problems *sob* that I’m having. I can’t do this, *sob* why I am having to deal with this, *sob* it’s not fair….” (Oh how I wish this wasn’t a true story & that it only happened one time this last pregnancy.)
The internet is the place where people spend more time on their Facebook accounts, blogs, Twitter, games, MSN, or whatever it may be than actually sitting in the family room and spending some time together. I haven’t been blogging for a year and you know what? I actually read some books. I actually sat in my living room without obsessing over how many tweets went out about my post that day, checking my emails 100 times to see how many comments I had, or without getting angry emails from random strangers because they didn’t like what I had to say about something. I didn’t have my son getting all frustrated because I had spent more time staring at my iPhone or WordPress dashboard than I did actually listening to what he had to say (starting to wonder why I started blogging again? ;))
One night Todd & I were at the movies waiting on our movie to start and we both looked up and realized that we had been sitting next to each other for 15 minutes, not talking because we were on our stupid iPhones playing games, checking Facebook & email, instead of relishing in the fact that we were going to have two whole hours to ourselves without someone yelling “MOMMY! DADDY!” (We now have a no phone rule on dates, except we keep them on us just in case the babysitter calls with an emergency. This is also a STRICT rule at our family suppers every evening as well.)
The internet is the place that can get you so upset, stirred up, emotionally drained from reading every.single internet trolls’ comments on any article that you read.
The internet is a place that I have really, really resented for the last year. That’s mostly my fault. I didn’t set big enough boundaries for myself on how much time I would spend blogging (this includes designing), I didn’t set enough boundaries for myself on how much I allowed people to be able to get a hold of me because I had a smart phone that literally carried the internet in my pocket with me 24/7.
I’m a little wiser this time around. If people aren’t going to read my blog because I’m not neglecting myself and my family because I’m not going to be constantly checking my email, Facebook, & Twitter, then so be it. I’m going to write anyways, because I love to tell a story.
This time, I’m going to be a mom who blogs, instead of a blogger who has kids.
Do you ever hate the internet or let it control your life? Or is it just me?
From Kludgy Mom’s Idea Bank.
I TOTALLY get this. I did not stop blogging like you did, but I finally got fed up with how crazy my brain felt after a full day on social media. I’ve severely restricted my time and my head feels much clearer and we are all happier 🙂
I’m glad you are back and I LOVE the picture of your little family!
Lenette Most Recent Post…A Day at the Zoo
Yes! Your brain does feel crazy after you’ve spent the whole day on social media! I had tried a thousand times to restrict myself, but by the time I was at the end I was totally done. Hopefully I’ll do so much this time around!
Thanks for stopping by Lenette!
Kate Most Recent Post…Adventure: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
Well, I think you found the good point – to write for yourself. It’s what I do mostly. Oddly enough, my self-indulgence speaks to lots of people in a similar boat. So it’s all good 🙂
As for restricting my time on the webbernitz, nuh uh. Can’t do it. It’s my only social life sometimes. But I’m not addicted to my smart phone, so don’t carry it around to check things constantly. What can I say? I like full-size keyboards 😉
But yes – write what you want to write about. Heck, it’s not like you’re getting paid for it, so make it an indulgence. Write what you love and others will love it. The one smart thing I did after I had that one post go viral was not change my ways, eliminating the pressure to live up to other people’s standards. God knows my standards are hard enough to live up to, lol!
Phoebe, I love you. That’s why you’re my favorite & I’m yours too right?!!! lol (I’m still bitter that y’all moved right when you had a GIRL!)
I think what got to me the most was all the time I was spending designing, because I felt a lot of pressure to deliver a good job, which is what I was being paid to do. And when I found out I was pregnant, that’s when I decided I couldn’t blog, design, be mom, wife & pregnant all at the same time. So I cut out the blog/design business and just kept up with Facebook & stalked people on twitter. haha!
“God knows my standards are hard enough to live up to, lol!”— same here!
Kate Most Recent Post…The worst technological invention ever: Internet
This line: “This time, I’m going to be a mom who blogs, instead of a blogger who has kids.” Bravo! I couldn’t have said it better myself. I take huge timeouts from blogging from time to time, and although my readership (if you can call it that) may have suffered because of it, I have chosen not to stress about it anymore. I started blogging as a way to keep far-flung family and friends updated on our family’s life, and when I went back to that basic purpose, everything just seemed so unimportant. Blogging is something that I like to do for fun, anyway, and when it got cluttered with all the other stuff, it just wasn’t anymore. So what if I don’t get thousands of followers? My family will always come first. 🙂
YES! I absolutely agree with you, it just took me a different route to get here. I really got way too focused in the wrong way, so I’m trying a more stress free route!
Kate Most Recent Post…Speaking at Grandma’s Funeral
So I just read this and agree that we have to set much stronger personal boundaries around the internet. And I totally used to feel this way about smart phones and how we are tethered to them and how we talk more electronically than face to face.
I have to counter with something else too. Since I am in Peru, the internet is literally a lifesaver for me in so many ways. Thank GOD for my iphone. The maps, internet searches, the translator, restaurant finder, you name it. And most importantly, it has allowed me to keep up with my friends and family back home. I would be lost without that.
I have to say, when I was in the USA, my phone/email/facebook/etc. controlled me instead of the other way around, so I can totally relate to this post. But now that Peru controls me, it is the internet and my iphone that make it bearable!!
Your other favorite cousin Jessica Most Recent Post…You’re My Blue Sky, You’re My Sunny Day
hi!,I really like your writing so a lot!
share we keep up a correspondence extra approximately your post on AOL?
I need a specialist in this space to solve my problem.
May be that is you! Looking forward to look you.
receding gums what to do Most Recent Post…receding gums what to do
I have checked your site and i have found some duplicate content,
that’s why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool that can help
you to create 100% unique articles, search for: SSundee advices unlimited content for your
blog
HeatherBold Most Recent Post…HeatherBold
I have noticed you don’t monetize mommymonologues.com,
don’t waste your traffic, you can earn extra bucks every month with new monetization method.
This is the best adsense alternative for any type of website (they approve all sites),
for more details simply search in gooogle: murgrabia’s tools
BestWilliams Most Recent Post…BestWilliams