This little story will break your heart. Every morning I usually read my scriptures in bed and write in my journal/blog on my MacBook. Recently I have been so exhausted between 6-7 am I have been hitting the snooze button and starting a little later. About 7:00am on the money- Noah comes crawling in to snuggle in bed with me. He catches me in the act.
Every night we repeat it – Family Scripture study (Sometimes we read them off my computer) and Prayer in my room on the king and a couple of kids zonk it right next to me. Since my bedtime isn’t 9pm, I usually will grab the MacBook and work for awhile in the dark while they are sleeping. You know I am a women who multi-tasks and since I am a full time mom who does odd strange companies/non-profits on the side that are my passion and hobbies occasionally I have to work. I do most of it in the day when the little kids are at school and the older kids are working on their assignments, but occasionally I fall behind.
It never dawned on me that they didn’t know what I was doing- should they?
On one particular night- Noah said “Can’t you put that thing down and snuggle!” Even though we were as tight as tight next to each other. I said “Noah, this is where I do my jobs- my job of travel and my job of photography!”. In the most innocent voice he replied
“I thought your job was to take care of us?”
Oh the guilt of that remark has cut me like a cold knife! Do I want to be remembered as the mom who was attached to her MacBook. (Secretly you all know that I want to be buried with my iPhone and my Apple products- but honestly, I took note.)
New policy! When kids are snuggling-no more Mac. I think I will probably go through attachment disorders issues. I sleep with my boyfriend MAC more than my husband, no fault of my own, it is just the nature of being married to the Exec!
That gentle reminder from Noah put it all into perspective.
In my own defense I have no free time and I spend a lot of times with these kids-obviously not enough! It is that brief little morning time and that 5 minutes when they are falling asleep then I am out like a light myself.
But for just that 20 minutes on both ends of the day my two little munchkins are laying in bed with me- I am going to hug and squeeze like crazy, because that is the job that really counts in life-taking care of them. Thanks for the reminder Noah!
5 Comments
November 10, 2009 at 9:43 am
Ah, yes, the Boyfriend! That’s what my family calls my MacBoook Air! “Oh look, Mom’s got her boyfriend!” I too fall asleep with my laptop more than with my hubby. He’s at meetings and doesn’t get home until late. I often have those guilty twinges and have had to institute limits, boundaries, rules as to when I use my computer and when I don’t. Our children are so good at innocently reminding us what is and what is not a priority. Thanks for sharing!!
November 10, 2009 at 11:28 am
Oh, the pain! I know it all too well! Pie tells me, “Mommy, I don’t want you to work on your computer today.” She makes me promise! ;o)
November 10, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Oh man! It gets so addicting. That is so cute what Noah said. Good goal. I know what you mean. You don’t want to be someone always on their computer when the one’s you love are around you. That’s why when we go on a trip we’ll Macbook it up the whole time in front of each other and not feel the least bad! I LOVE the pics of the family below btw! Oh and this one of you and NOah. So cute!
November 10, 2009 at 2:53 pm
You are a great mom, so yeah, put the boyfriend away during snuggle time, but don’t beat yourself up. LOVE that picture of you and Noah!
November 10, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Great post! I have worried at times when I’m bogged down with evaluation summaries to write or papers to grade that my kids will think of me as glued to my computer. I’ve been trying to make it a priority when they are home & awake to be engaged with them whenever possible, or if I can’t be at least be available to “pause” what I’m doing at the drop of the hat. It’s hard though, because it also means I’m getting less sleep.
Thanks for the reminder of what is really important!