Today’s Great Giveaways!
3 CD Set, Let’s Get PURSE-onal!, Personality Puzzle for Parents of Preschoolers, and Raising a Reader By: Cheri Gregory
In these 3 power-packed CDs, Cheri not only helps moms be better moms by understanding themselves but she also shares the primary goal and two major needs of each Personality type so moms can understand and relate to their children better. She also presents 2 parenting DOs and 2 parenting DON’Ts for each one personality type. And in Raising a Reader, Cheri helps moms develop a love for reading in their children.
Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On By: Stormie Omartian
“Learning to walk with God is a journey. The questions and directions in this prayer and study guide will help you to examine your walk with God and do what is necessary to strengthen, deepen, and enhance it. As you walk in faith through difficult times, this prayerful workbook will help you see how faithfully God’s light attends each step and moment of your life.” ~ Stormie Omartian
And Then I Had Kids (Audio Book – CD) By: Susan Alexander Yates
Enjoy these years, they go by fast,” says the older moms to the younger ones. Ludicrous advice! You’d give anything just to live through them. Blending humor and wisdom, Yates-mother of five- offers frazzled moms tips for maintaining a postive self-image, nurturing their marriage, disciplining effectively and shaping a creative Christian home.
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eBabies + iTeens + YouToo: See Mommy Text
My original plan for this blog post was to tackle the topic of kids and cell phones head-on. Expose the issues. Wrestle with some rules.
But as I got input from other moms, I realized that before talking about kids and texting, we we need ask some key questions about moms and cell phones!
So I’m going to share a personal story, raise a bunch of questions, offer a few practical answers from some wonderful women, and invite you to continue this conversation in the comments!
True Confession: My Missing Phone Panic
A couple of years ago, my college-aged daughter and I were headed to San Francisco for a mom-and-daughter day. We got half an hour away from home before I realized the awful truth:
I’d left my cell phone at home.
How would I ever get to San Francisco? Check my e-mail? Find Ghirardelli Square? Communicate with Daniel? Get back home safely?
I’m ashamed to admit it now, but at the time, it seemed perfectly rational to shed a few tears.
“Mom,” Annemarie assured me, “we can find a mall with an Apple store and go use MapQuest.”
Fortunately, I moved my purse and found my cell phone right where I’d put it, safely charging in the console.
Flooded with the sweet relief of reunion, I felt a twinge of embarrassment at my panic.
Was I really that attached to my cell phone? To technology in general?
Why hadn’t I thought of stopping at a local gas station and (hello!) buying a map?
Questions to Ask the Mom in the Mirror
The purpose of the eBabies + iTeens + YouToo series is to raise questions that adults need to be asking about kids and technology. This week’s questions center on our own relationships with our cell phones.
- How often do I reach for my cell phone when my children are with me? Why?
- Am I using my cell phone for a definite purpose each time I reach for it or “just checking” for something new?
- When & where have I chosen not to text: while eating? at the park? in the checkout line? in the car? while playing games? while reading with the kids?
- What limits do my children see me setting with my cell use? What conversations am I having with them about my personal choices?
- What reactions do my children witness to my texting? happiness? upset? laughter? anger? frustration?
- How do I help them understand that my reactions are not “about them”? How do I keep my reactions from spilling over into my interactions with them?
- How much do I text when I’m with people face-to-face? Why?
Some Shared Wisdom
“The examples we give [our children] will either validate what we say or give them an excuse not to obey.” Stephanie Shott
“My kids are little (6, 4, and 2), but I do my best to not have my phone around while playing with them, meals or when we are homeschooling. I also want to set a good example now about not texting or using the phone while driving. I don’t want them to get conditioned seeing me do it and think that it is okay.” Heather Metzger Ablondi
“I tell [my 13-year-old] not to text anything emotional – only informational. Because texts (and even emails) do not support authentic communication of our emotions and can often be misinterpreted.” Kelli Williams Wommack
“One of my friend’s make their kids keep their phone and waller or purse in the trunk while they drive. Since texting and talking on the phone both are distractions she asks them to put the phone in the trunk to prevent the temptation.” Angela Mackey
“I try to keep my phone either in my purse or connected via bluetooth to my car. That way I can control everything via voice….It helps to have some hard and fast rules. We have a ‘no phones’ at the dinner table or in the bedroom rule. We also have a ‘don’t be texting/on your phone when you’re with REAL people’ rule. We’ve had teen friends over who spend time texting OTHER people than those they’re with.” Julie Titus Sanders
Dealing With “Awkward”
Several years ago, I invited a bunch of my senior girls over to my house, fed them pizza, and asked them questions about teens and technology. Here’s a very telling clip about how they use their cell phones as barriers in face-to-face interactions:
(Can’t see video? Click here to view via YouTube!)
Might we as moms be using our cell phones this way, intentionally or accidentally? If so, what are we modeling for our children?
We’ve barely scratching the surface! I’d love to continue the conversation and hear your thoughts, ideas, answers, reactions, and further questions in the comments!
We “Linked Up” over at The Better Mom today:
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
