Make dinner before surfing / Part 2

(See Part 1 for beginning of story)
When we moved to the new house, I had a new opportunity to tune out the Internet. (Actually, I didn’t have a choice – which is what it takes sometimes).
Today is a new day! Today, I get to think of something ELSE to occupy my time. “Mom,” my son asks, “do you want to play the Indiana Jones LIFE game?” “WOW! Great idea,” I reply as we sit together on a Saturday morning. Then, as I crawl into bed that night, my 14 year old daughter begins to discuss her décor for her new bedroom, what she did at school that week, and what friend she wants to have over this weekend. All the while, I was deeply grateful she was chatting with me instead of a chat room.
I learned – in these short two weeks that without the Internet I really would be okay. I am not sure about my family…but I would survive. But, I also NEED to be employed and much of my work uses the Internet. SO, here are some strategies I recommend to step out of my elctro-centric tea party to make sure the family party can stay together:
1. Check personal e-mail no more than 4 times per week in TOTAL. Tell friends and associates to that if there is an emergency, they should call you.
2. Subscribe to no more than 2 networking sites in order to manage your time.
3. Ask your family to set their own time limits on the Internet and then stick to them.
4. Turn off all electronics and do not answer cell or home phones during evening meal. If you have a PDA, TV, iPod or a computer in or near the kitchen, turn them off.
5. Keep the Internet “OFF” when the children are awake (or dog or cat or other loved one).
It is critical that we put time with our loved ones way above time deleting the garbage in our inboxes or researching random “possibilities” on the Web. As you get invited to the electronic tea parties around the world, don’t be mummified by the masses of information the Internet feeds you. Make sure you make dinner for your family first.

About the Author: Deborah Sakry Lande is a mother, writer, and abundance energy shifter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota