I did something the other week that shocked and amazed my family: I unplugged. For one day. No computer, no tv.
It was everything I dreamed it would be.
I did not require this of anyone else. The kids, especially, need to be led into this slowly, and a new activity needs to be in its place. No, it was just for me.
While my husband played his records, The Lego Kid sat on the computer and Teenager played video games, I read, rested and generally relaxed. Oh, it was heaven!
I knew I needed to do something when I got the feeling that I was drowning in electronics -- primarily, moving back and forth between sitting in front of the tv and cycling endlessly through Facebook, e-mail, Etsy and Pinterest. I was connected, but I didn't feel, well, alive.
I didn't miss the technology. In fact, it was actually sort of calming. And grounding.
My husband and I have been talking about how we can unplug the entire family, perhaps even once a week. As I said, it would be harder on the boys, so we were kicking around the idea of day trips as a way of getting out of the house and away from the bright, shiny objects. I don't expect this idea to be met with happy faces from Teenager and The Lego Kid, but sometimes you have to feed your needs, not your wants.
