Well, we survived our first Full Family Internet-Free Sunday (or FFIFS, as I might begin to fondly call it.) The Sunday after I set the challenge didn't really count because my two older boys were away for the weekend so last Sunday was officially 'Day One' with all my boys in tow. After the first few 'What are we doing today?' and 'I'm bored' conversations and a few irritable retorts from me, here are three unexpectedly lovely things that happened:1) We went to a Chinese New Year garden party and my 17 year old son decided to join us. Normally, he'd stay at home and just sit on the internet all day, but as that option was out of the equation, I guess he figured even a garden party full of uninteresting adults would be better than staying at home on his own. Outcome: I got a full three hours out of them before the 'when are we going' chants started up. Gosh, teenagers! They can be rattier than two-year-olds!
2) I had some leftover Chinese dumpling mix and wonton skins that didn't get used up at the party so when I got home I started making dumplings for our dinner. With nothing else to do my three sons sat around the table and helped me. Voluntarily. And we CHATTED. Yep, nothing short of a miracle. But the best is yet to come.
3) Not having two hundred and fifty-three friends waiting for them to hurry up and finish their dinner and get back online meant that my sons sat at the table until even I had finished eating! And then - yes, this is the part you've been waiting for - we played a board game. No, not Twister - I just put that image up there to make you laugh. Scattegories. It was almost fun. Except I noticed that my oldest son was particularly aggressive and competitive and sometimes seemed a little out to get me. But - hey - it's only day one. They're bound to be a bit jittery the first few days. Baby steps.
Wow, that almost sounds like an episode of The Waltons! The surprises must have been so wonderful. I just LOVE it when my kids talk to me! Good for you, Sally. jx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen. It was you I had in mind when I put that pic up. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the Waltons! Though I was more of a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan myself. (We were three girls in our family.) I remember being shocked to the core when I discovered that the only toy Laura had was a doll made out of an OLD CORN COB!
So glad it's going well. It must be great to know the Internet hasn't entirely taken over your lives. Enjoy it while you can.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea. I think I'm going to rise to the challenge and start a FFIFS at our house. Indeed it will be a challenge. For us it has to be Xbox, Wii as well. It's incredible how kids find it so difficult to not play the internet and I admit me too. On Sunday, we went for a lovely drive to natural bridge and went for a walk and swim in the refreshing creek, but my son couldn't wait to get home to start playing his games. I read your post today so maybe next Sunday we can try FFIFS. Bring back fun family time and togetherness!
ReplyDeleteBaby steps of course.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn.
ReplyDeleteRenee - I know what you mean about that rush to get back to the screen world as I always feel that pressure with my boys (and even myself at times!) That's one of the reasons for doing this. If there is just one day a week where all the screen toys don't even 'work' it takes an enormous amount of pressure off the family and you can just relax into the day. Give it a go - and let me know what happens for you!
how lovely.
ReplyDeletemy 17 year old brother is both competitive and aggressive when it suits him and especially during games...i think it might just be one of their delightful quirks.
i'm planning on having one screen-free day a week...all this LCD is wreaking havoc on my eyeballs and surely my brain too.
Ah, good to hear it is not just my 17 year old. They have many delightful quirks, don't they?
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your screen-free days. Among other things, I plan to get more reading done! Of the print on paper kind.
This is so lovely, Sally!
ReplyDeleteWe are having computer-free Sundays too (can't quite make the leap to totally screen-free, but hey, as everyone says, baby steps!) We instituted it mostly for my 6 year old, who is obsessive about Club Penguin, but strangely the one who finds it hardest to stick to the rules is my husband.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a game of monopoly on the go all week. Two of us have been eliminated and one is clinging on by his fingernails, but it's been huge fun.
PS Hey Sally, what is the gadget that lets you display your books in that nifty way down the margin? I want to be a copy cat but I can't figure out how to do it!!
ReplyDeleteSigned, Hopeless of Preston
Hi Kate, good luck with your (never-ending) Monopoly game!
ReplyDeleteI have to say Monopoly has become my least favourite board game because my 7 year old makes up all these new rules to make sure he wins. You can't even lose purposefully to escape because he just makes up another rule... excruciating!
As for those fancy side bits: open up the 'design page' on your blog and click on 'add a gadget'. Scroll down to choose which gadget you want. I usually just go for 'picture'. This gadget also gives you the option to add text and links. Let me know who you go...
oops that was meant to read HOW you go... although 'who you go' does sound interesting and cryptic...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally - now I can spend the next hour or so fiddling with my blog...
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you, you don't know excruciating until you've tried to combine Monopoly with Littlest Pet Shops, which is what our 6 year old does - they have parties on Free Parking, befriend the little dog token and kidnap it, use all the houses to make their own holiday resort... ay ay ay.
Oh god, Kate! Compared to you I am definitely getting off lightly! Ay ay ay, indeed!
ReplyDelete