The following is a guest post from momAgendaCOMM blogger Heather Reinhard.
My husband and I recently wanted to take the kids out to eat. We don’t normally make such an effort during the week to do this….between my his work schedule and the children’s appointments marked clearly in my Personal Portfolio, I am usually trying to whip up something quick and decent at home instead of running out to eat.
But the other night, my husband and I thought it would be fun to try a new restaurant in town which would also be a good idea for our 2 and 5 year old to get out.
This time, though, was different.
The kids were indecisive.
They were not listening.
Upon waiting thirty minutes for a table, they were misbehaving in a way that made our skin crawl.
After numerous attempts and a massive failed intervention, my husband and I both looked at each other and realized that it was not worth staying. Yes, it was THAT bad, knowing that the alternative to leave was actually a better decision than to stick out and stay.
Frustrated and out of patience, we road home in silence. When we returned home, we sat the kids down at the kitchen table and wanted to know why they were acting so out of control…and our five year-old son responded with, “Well, we had nothing to do.”
We had nothing to do – five words that still continue to rock us to the core.
Upon the arrival of Hurricane Irene a few days before, we lost power in our home. It became quickly evident that my son was completely lost without his DS, the Wii, DVD, DVR, On Demand and I can go on….
And he is only 5.
He lives in this world of instant gratification and it’s really beginning to show its ugly face
What happened to the days filled with Candy Land, Play-Doh and a few measly crayons? Now, their lives comprise of DS cartridges, Wii games and a boatload of apps.
“We had nothing to do” still echoes in my ears and I shudder to think that my son is growing up in a world where he will remember his video games more than memories of playing a good-old fashioned board game and fully engaging with his family.
In a world that is full of technology and moving at such a rapid rate, at what point do we stop and say – enough is enough?