“Mom, I think you like your computer more than you like your family.” My daughter stood in front of me – and my computer – with tight fists on her hips and a frown on her face.

“Oh sweetheart, that is not true! Of course I like you better!” I responded defensively.

“No mom. You spend more time playing with your computer than you spend with us.”

I reached for the top of my laptop and slowly began to lower it in an attempt to close the computer. However, I was in the middle of reading a blog post, or an e-mail, or a status update on Facebook, or checking stats for my blog, or something, or anything, or absolutely nothing. Still, it took all the willpower in me to close that screen instead of finishing whatever it was I was doing at a time.

My fear is that someday I will be begging for my kids’ time and attention, and it will be too late. I have to be present if I want to be a part of their lives. They are more important. I don’t ever want to look back and look at this time with regret because of my wasted time invested in social media and behind-the-screen relationships, rather than investing it in my children. Not ever.

“You know what sweetheart, I think that I should not be on the computer from the time you come home from school until the time you go to bed.” I finally said.

“Really?” My daughter’s sweet and excited voice is accompanied by a big smile.

“I will try my best.”

It is not easy

Social media  has become an addiction. Like a drug addict going through withdrawal I find myself standing by my computer, lying to myself, “I can check my e-mail really quick; it will only take a couple of minutes.” I know it only takes “a couple of minute”s for me to be lost behind the screen. A couple of minutes soon become another afternoon spent with my on-line friends rather than the family I love or the friends I get to do real life with.

That is the hardest part. I have exchanged real relationships for social media. I chose to do “virtual” life rather than real life. It makes no sense, absolutely no sense at all. Especially when my family is sacrificed. Ironically, it is my family that I love most, yet I neglect easily when lost behind a screen.

The seriousness of it all

 As some point, I have to take my life back! I have much to learn about discipline, and determination because I know  this is a real problem easily dismissed because “everyone else is doing it,” but the pull of this media-saturated-culture is so strong that it is destroying our relationships. The temptation is only a click away, but it’s time to take ownership of my time, of my life, and the gifts that God has given to me.

I want to be present to the people I love and care for. It’s worth it, so incredibly, absolutely, and completely worth it. Time to stop living behind a screen, and start living life to the full.