Yesterday, i got a text message from DJ
DJ: Ma, can Arvin go to our house?
Me: (who is Arvin nga?)
Me: (I remember Abi telling me conversations with Arvin)
My text #1: Ok. I don't see any problem.
Me: (San ang bahay nun?)
My text #2: So what is he going to do in the house? Play X box?
DJ: Yes. but he will bring 3 gadgets also.
So this is how children nowadays spend their freetime/vacation from school.
Not like this anymore:
(luksong_tinik_by_halibas.jpg)
nor like this:
(www.forumbiodiversity.com)
They have been replaced with online games, Facebook, PSP, TV etc. Now, meaningful conversations are already rare and frequently, interactions are through emails, text messages or short phone calls.
In our house, only during friday night and Saturday are my children allowed to watch TV and to have access to computers and internet.Some people tell me, "wawa naman the kids". For them, our set up is completely unimaginable.
On the other hand, i see the set up healthier. After school, my kids can take a nap before doing their assignments. They read books (Nate, Wimpy Kid, etc) and they have time to play with Sarah. When its study time with Papa, they are active and articulate.
I also believe in the importance instilling discipline to our children while they are young. Rules train them to "obey" and to restraint themselves. It also teaches them the value of "waiting" for that proper time. Indirectly, I am also imparting patience to my children.
But usually, on saturdays, I would also insist that they go out and play in the street with the neighborhood playmates. I always tell them "Couch potatoes are not allowed in this house". So they would go out (relieved). But, really times have changed because even outside, they are, most of the time, into board games. :(
How I wish they could also experience the joy of being able to run freely in the streets and to scream at the top of their voices. I had a wonderful time growing up in my grandfather's place - no TV, no gadgets, no fancy foods, no yaya, no off lotion and no lotion at all. But we never felt deprived. On the contrary, I felt I had the happiest childhood memories in the world.
I hope next year I could enhance our routine some more. Me and my kids are generations apart and mine was a thing of the past. But I don't see myself raising children who are always hooked on computer nor do I envision taking care of a family where interactions are limited through text messages. That would be a nightmare to me, a failure indeed as a mother.
We may be competing with the environment that we have now and we also have to keep up with the latest in the technology, but I firmly believe that despite any (social) pressure, if we really want to nurture useful individuals we must keep some of our values intact.
