I often read posts about bloggers who have gone through a power outage or a computer death (like me) and decided during the time they didn't have access to the Internet that it was actually a good thing. A blessing in disguise. And they decide that even though they now have an Internet connection again, they are no longer going to use it. Except for that one last post where they tell the world that they have rediscovered their family and have been set free. Oh, and buh bye.
I AM NOT ONE OF THEM.
I spend a LOT of time with my family doing family like stuff, but there's only so much time I can spend playing games and doing crafts and watching Gabi do the exact same flip off the couch a hundred times (she's in the WATCH ME! WATCH ME! phase right now) before my brain starts to freak out on me.
And she can only take so much of my OCDness before flipping out on my crazy ways. Like, I know not letting her hold the glue is probably stunting her growth in some way, but I just can't handle the insanely sticky mess she creates! And she just can't handle me not letting her be a Big Girl and doing it herself! And ARGHH!
So there's always a point in the day when we go our separate ways for some independent play. And the computer is usually where I escape to.
It's also my reward for dealing with things like Gabi pretending to be a dying armadillo and thrashing about on the ground at my feet while I'm trying to have a phone conversation with my pharmacist. If she can do things like that, then I can spend a few minutes zoning out on the Internet while checking on the latest Olympic stats. Tit for tat, kiddo.
Now I must say, getting in some extra reading time the last few days has been nice, but I LOVE my Internet. I can do almost anything on it. I actually do almost everything on it. The last three days without it have made me realize just how much I rely on it! No maps, no recipes, no bill paying. NO EMAIL!
I NEED IT BACK! I need to know that the Internet is there and available, even if I only need to hop on for a quick minute or two.
I think Gilberto's plan was to wait a few weeks before buying a new computer. Sorry, mister, we are going out to buy a new one TONIGHT. I've been able to stay somewhat connected at work, but I don't think I'll be able to go a whole weekend without an electronic fix.
I would go abso-freaking-lutely crazy without internet. Doing the stay at home mom thing can be pretty isolating and if I didn't have email and all of my blog friends, things would likely get ugly really fast.
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way. And just wait until Gabi starts trying to tell knock knock jokes.
ReplyDeletePain.ful. That's all I'm going to say.
I am with you. It is like hooking yourself up to sanity. Plus, how else are you going to connect with others who are going through weird mom stuff at the same time. I told my husband, it is my fellowship. it is a gift from the Lord. and a little bit o an addiction.
ReplyDeleteA-MEN. I'm trying to cut back a bit on my computer time since it's taken over my life, but no way can I cut it out completely.
ReplyDeletethats sounds way healthier than say beer. or pills. chalk one up for the good momma.
ReplyDeleteI know. I bet a lot more moms would be on medication were it not for the internet, eh?
ReplyDeleteCut back...yes, give it up cold turkey....no way in He!!. I don't think I could function without the internet. I think my kids would love it though, they are in the- gotta have your undivided attention at all times-phase.
ReplyDeleteI'm checking this from my phone, so that says something about my love affair with the internet. Get thee an unlimited datplan STAT.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you too. I need my net. End of story.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya on that one...I must have the internet. On vacation our connection was spotty and I was so frustrated. Like you I use it for recipes, email, blogging, news, weather, etc.
ReplyDeleteI would have to go through therapy if it was ever abruptly taken away from me.
I'm with you, sister. I am also baffled by bloggers who post that they are going to take a break from blogging. I'm like, WHA? Blogging IS my break. ;)
ReplyDeleteDid I write that post?
ReplyDeleteYes it was interesting to be without internet for 4 days.
Yes I was more productive.
But yes I am back and loving it!
And I have a 3 year old in the 'watch me do this' stage.
"Gabi pretending to be a dying armadillo" this will make me laugh all night . . . just picturing it.
ReplyDeleteSo, did you get it???? Spill . . .
You are not going to hear an argument from me.
ReplyDeleteEvery time we stopped to get gas or use the bathroom as we drove back from Fort Collins yesterday, I checked for a WiFi signal--it worked a couple of times!
i seriously love your justifications. sometimes i feel so guilty for reading or blogging whathaveyou while the kiddos are playing, and i just have to tell myself that they "need to be by themselves sometimes"
ReplyDeletei don't know what i would do without internet for a few days... i mean i seriously start thinking "man i need to get into my email" after like 6 hours of being away. its baaaaaad
What did we ever do before the internet? Seriously, can you imagine having to look up your encyclopedia every time your children say 'mummy, who invented the lawn mower' or 'how many British kings and queens were there - and in what order?' I'm a total addict too!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for stopping by on my SITS day, I really do appreciate your visit.
I know what you mean....Spanky threw a ball on my laptop and one of the keys popped off--two months ago--I can easily take it to the Mac store to get fixed under warranty BUT then I will be without computer for a couple of days and I am not good at surfing on my phone--so I wait, until another day.
ReplyDeleteHope you get a new computer soon!
Thanks Laural! From that girl's blog I've found 5 military wives's blogs! :)
ReplyDeletehugs!
No Internet? No can do. It's like life support now. Hmm, that's a pretty sad statement, I guess, that I can't do without technology. What did I do before it?
ReplyDeleteHmmm.
KJ
http://nanadiaries.wordpress.com
No way, no internet. I once had dial-up for service - a LONG time ago. I couldn't even do that again. I work from home too - so it's here or insanity~
ReplyDeleteWe were once internet free for TWO days and, I swear, I thought my husband was going to explode. He kept pacing the house talking about how disconnected he felt.
ReplyDeleteHave to have the net! :)
ReplyDeleteThree years ago our computer crashed and I didn't mind. I deleted my blogs using the library computer and felt free to just be a part of my family. It took two years for the small moments of missing it to grow to an urge large enough to make my hubbie go shopping but Now that the girls are a tad bit older and I've had it in my life again for a year now and have done well with fitting in real life I wouldn't give it up again. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true!! It's hard to go without it even for a day. I just had no internet and no cable for 5 days!!! The TV part was actually pretty nice...but no internet...not so nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog last week.
Oh my goodness, honey. You are so brave.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't handle it. Sad I know!
Our laptop is broken and I've been annoyed by having to use our desktop...that really says a lot about me!
you are so brave, i would be dying as well. i usually blog/email during naps, but like you it is nice to get away from everything for a minute and surf the net!
ReplyDeletenext time when you write about gabi acting as an armadillo could you please write...amanda stop drinking your tea.
ReplyDeleteseriously honey you crack me up!!
ok but for real - please tell me you are back and connected. i truly think i would curl up in the fetal position and start crying without my interwebs!