Giving it up...

This year, I decided to participate in the custom of giving something up for Lent.  I've never done this before, but it seemed fitting considering my commitment to trying to make some drastic changes in my life.  So what did I give up?  My laptop... at least during all hours that the kids are awake.  This means that on most days, I will be restricted to a very short period of time during which I can check email and facebook, post on the blog, pay the bills, and browse the internet for dumb stuff I probably don't need to be wasting my time on.

I've been working up to this restriction for a few days, because going cold turkey can be really hard.  I do think it's a good change for me, though, because several times I've found myself wishing I had done something more meaningful with the kids that day, or was just being a better mom in general.  Turns out, I had probably checked my email 4 or 5 times, facebook at least 3 times, and researched something that seemed important at the time, but I probably could have done without.  If I had cut that stuff out, maybe I would have squeezed in an extra book to read, or responded to one of the kids' requests/cries/whines a little sooner.

I've already failed once today.  The bills had to be paid, and although I tried to accomplish it last night, the internet was being screwy and it did not get done.  But other than that, I've stayed off the laptop completely. 

It was a good day to start this, since we had already scheduled to go to playgroup, and I had some errands to run, and the weather is gorgeous.  I do wonder, though, how it's going to be several days from now when I'm starting to have that itch for connection to the rest of the world (you know, the people who can form complete sentences and think on a slightly higher level than "I'm hungry", "I'm tired", and "NO!").  Keep in mind that I do not possess any other internet-accessing device, and my cell phone does nothing but make and receive calls.  So, we shall see... wish me luck!