Banned for Life...well...at least Sun-Fri

This first full week of January was spent, like most I'm sure, getting back into the daily routine of everyday life. School is back in swing (for now because, you know, Covid), jobs resumed, and New Year's resolutions (or the newly phrased 'Intentions') have begun.

I couldn't be happier.

Don't get me wrong, the two weeks off for my kids was great. We watched movies, made so many batches of cookies, ate so many batches of cookies (as my scale can attest), and it was great for them to just play with friends, lounge if they wanted...do whatever.

However, by the time we were near the end of break, ALL my kids wanted to do (and I do mean ALL) was A) watch TV or B) play on their Nintendo Switches thanks to new games they got for Christmas. Normally, I don't mind a little technology because I am guilty of the same, 'Let me just chill and watch an episode or two, maybe a whole season, and have a veg day'. But their level of veg was like a limp celery stick and I was so over it.

Beyonce might have said put a ring on it, but me? I said put a limit on it (mom jokes for days), and I did. Starting the Sunday before school resumed, I decreed that there would be no electronics from Sunday evening around 5pm until Friday when they got home from school. Zero, zip, nada.

Cue the tantrums.

Until I threatened to sell and/or give away everything in their playroom because if they weren't going to use it, why have it? Then they grumblingly agreed.

Much to my delight, and though they haven't realized it yet, their own joy, any free time this entire week has been spent with toys long forgotten, or outside with friends. Time has even been spent *gasp* reading!

In the mornings we usually have about 10 minutes before I need to take S and D to the bus stop, and they have been building magnet block castles together. After school is spent with friends outside.

My favorite though is when the baby and S go down for bed around 6:30pm, my oldest-middle has been asking me to play cards with him! He learned how to play when his Grammy and Nonna were here visiting for Thanksgiving and now that he can't watch TV, or play his switch, he asks me to play with him. I consider that the biggest mom win ever (despite being second to electronics, he still has other toys he could play with, but he wants to play with me...awww). Our current game of choice is Phase 10.

Now, for about 30-45 minutes before it's his turn for bed, me, my oldest, and my oldest-middle play cards. And it's so nice to talk and interact with them like that.

At 7:15pm D goes to bed, my oldest reads in his room until 9pm, and that leaves this mama with an hour and forty-five minutes ALL. TO. MYSELF!! I take my shower; I do my nighttime routine (curtesy of my New Year's resolution/intention to take care of myself more); I get my clothes set up for the next day; I read a little (have time to write and post a blog) and am in bed by 9pm.

It is glorious. I am loving that no-tech life. May it continue!!