Purging Distractions

Over the past few years I've begun purging the distractions in my life, and it's making a big difference.  It began when I noticed a direct link between something I was doing, and my patience level with the kids.  One of the first things to go for me was daytime TV.  I had certain shows I liked to watch during the day, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  But I noticed that I became increasingly irritated with the kids when I was trying to watch my show and they wouldn't stop distracting me.  I think it was partly created, because the kids recognize when I'm tuned out and start pushing the limits, and I would think "can't I get one half hour to myself in the run of the day?"  The answer: yes, but not while they are awake.  So I said goodbye to TV.

The latest item on my list is facebook.  I have been convicted of it several times over the past few years, and off and on have tried to set limits for myself (like I'll only check it in the evening when they've gone to bed), but time and again these go out the window.  After a long day of work, facebook is one of the first things I check when I walk in the door, and it's not good.  My six-year-old is really into technology, and has started asking when he can have his own facebook, and I'm sure that's because he sees me spending so much time on it.  Plus I think there's something wrong with knowing everyone's business all the time, and even though some people are a little more free in broadcasting personal stuff than others, it doesn't mean that I should be reading it.

So, for the sake of being a better wife and mother, I am ridding myself of facebook.  Or at least mostly.  I'll still keep it for close relatives (meaning those I actually talk to, parents, siblings, cousins, Aunts and Uncles) so that I can keep them posted on the kids and how they are growing.  But apart from that, I'm bidding a fond farewell to social networking.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed using it.  It just became too much of a distraction for me.  I'm taking a step back in time, and going back to email.  I think it will be a much better fit for me.