I’ve been set a social experiment this week, to live without technology after hours and spend more time with my wife and kids. I’ve been told I have an addiction to the stuff, I-Phones,pads and pods. Yes I do, I admit it. I’m forever reaching for a twitter feed, email reply or podcast download.
It never used to be this way. Summer days of backyard cricket while waiting for Last Ninja on the Commodore 64 to load up were the norm. But my reliance on the mod cons, and having my finger on the pulse of “everything” has taken it toll.
So one day down, and not really knowing what this social experiment will achieve gave me plenty of free time to do stuff, but “what”, was my problem. Looking after the kids whilst on the phone is normal. Setting them up in front of the DVD while I check twitter is what I do, and having a few hours to “Do Life” already left me wondering, what does everyone do when there not multi tasking.
Well for me , it was about my full attention, on my kids. An arvo free, and I spent some quality time continuing to toilet train my 2-year-old. To the point of resorting to mimick, I went, she copied ( not a recommended method, but it killed 2 birds with one stone).
I started teaching my baby how to ride her pedal powered bike. She has been using it like a push along bike for months while I watch from afar, on my phone, so I physically went and showed her where to put her feet and how to pedal. She loved it.
I put the kids in the blow up pool and hosed them for an hour. The hose on full pelt, my babies running and ducking for cover under the trampoline, their beautiful squeals filling the neighbourhood.
I cooked, I sent them to bed and watched TV with my wife, without the distraction of having me, constantly on twitter making social comment on MKR or what I thought of the small amount of weight this weeks contestants lost on The Biggest Loser. It was kind of nice. Yet I’m in major withdrawal mode, almost to the point of having the shakes. I love technology and although im prepared to go the whole week in this experiment, I cant help but be scared that I’ll be straight back on it when the week is done.
I wrapped up my night with an entire book, cover to cover, I got stuck in and ploughed through it. I love to read and that was my 6th book for the year. No distractions. A productive arvo sure, but how am I going to fill the rest of my week? Will I get bored? Will I crack and get my fix of Twitter at 2 am when I get up to use the loo?
I’ll keep you posted (during office hours only, this week of course)