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No Twitter During Playtime

Written by twistedxtian

Topics: Being a Dad, Fatherhood Friday

In all aspects of life, you will find tendrils of technology creeping their way in. This is something I’ve become increasingly aware of the more plugged into the parenting community online. Be it on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs, parents are getting together to talk about parenting. To share stories, to ask (and solicit) advice, to look for support. It is amazing the community that is gathering, and I’ve made some great friends.

Something that I have noticed though is the number of people that are constantly spending time talking about parenting, and I’m wondering if it cuts into their actual parenting. So many people tweet about what they are doing when playing with their kids, or during dinner, etc.. Now I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with this, to each their own, but I wonder what their kids think. Dad is constantly on the computer chatting on twitter, or writing on his blog, or pulling out his cell phone to tweet, or respond to something someone said.

I wonder if the amount of time people spend talking about parenting is cutting into actual parenting?

This is something I try to avoid, made all the easier with not having a cell phone. But yesterday I joined the ranks of smart phone users when I was given a Blackberry (Bold 9650) by my employer. Now it is something I fought for as it will make my life as and IT guy much easier, but within a short period of time I had my twitter and facebook apps installed and I was fully connected. I even caught myself checking my Twitter when my phone buzzed that I had a message, while I was playing on the floor with Bean.

So before I get into the habit I am making the decision to put down my phone when I am playing with Bean. Play time is tech-free time. Dinner times too. This is something that will become increasingly important as our family grows older, but is important now when I eat with my wife.

I’m not judging people for how they choose to use technology in their lives and in their parenting. I’m just making the choice to devout 100% of my attention to my son when playing with him, and to my family during my time with them. I don’t need to be online and connected 24/7.

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Posted on 2 September 2010

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  • Seattledad

    Here, here! Great post. Here, dinner and play time are tech free time too. I do feel like I am missing out on a lot of the talk though. But it’s worth it.

  • http://twistedchristian.ca/dadblog twistedxtian

    Thanks, Seattledad. I understand about missing out on things since the world of Twitter never really sleeps. Everytime I check in I see another interesting conversation happening that I’d love to be a part of, or one that has come and gone and I missed entirely. But, like I said, it never really stops, so there’ll always be more conversations and more time to interact when it isn’t play time. :) That’s how I see it anyway.

  • Dad U

    Sounds like good application of rule #1 and 1a!
    Good work!
    http://dad-u.blogspot.com/2010/08/draft-dadstalking-bloggers-code-of.html

  • http://www.leebodenmiller.wordpress.com lee

    Yes, I don’t have twitter, and I really don’t like facebook all that much. Check the time stamp on my blog posts and you’ll see they are usually at midnight or one in the morning…or on my lunch break at work!
    If I had twitter, that would probably be harder, but like you I don’t have a smartphone with a data plan, so…

  • http://LifeofaNewDad otter321

    Great question on how talking about parenting is cutting into real parenting. I think you will be very happy with your choices. I don’t do any social networking / blog stuff after I get home. I enjoy doing this, but much prefer spending time with the family.

  • Que

    Whatever! Just get the kids phones too (no matter the age) and you all can have playtime without missing anything! I’m just kidding… I think. But it has gotten a little out of hand. At home, we usually put the phones on top of the TV and leave them there until the kids have gone to bed. It doesn’t always happen but it is something we do.

  • http://www.pjmullen.com/ PJ Mullen

    For me I check in on things before the kids are up, or while my little man is eating. Naptime is another Twitter check in time and, of course, after they go to bed. With two kids I don’t have the time to blog or interact on Twitter as much and that is fine with me. I also don’t offer any parenting advice because anyone that listens to anything I say needs more help than that :)