After two glorious years of adoring my pink Samsung slide phone, it was time for me to upgrade and pick out something new.

I tend to be resistant to change when it comes to things that I am familiar with and use frequently.

After enlisting recommendations and opinions from friends, I decided to join the ifamily and get an iphone.

Finally, as some would say.

Why has it been so long that I have been out of the technology loop? I think some of it was the fear that I would become an iMom.

In fact, I never had a data plan before. I know that is hard for some people to even imagine but I normally designate computer time during the day or at night and that is the only time that I devote to working, checking e-mail, or communicating with friends.

It is a good way to keep from being distracted with things other than your family. Because really, all those other things can wait.

If your cell phone rings while you are helping your kids with homework or playing a game, do you run to answer it? And if you don’t, do you kids run to get it for you?

This happened to a friend of mine. It saddened her that her kids recognized what a high priority her cell phone held.

Shape Magazine reported that “150 is the number of times a day that people look at their cell phones. That’s about once every 6.5 minutes.”

It’s sad. Does being connected risk disconnection in other areas of your life?

You’ve seen the parents that are so busy on their phones that their kids trail behind them in parking lots.

You know the parents that bring their kids to extra-curricular activities only to sit on their phone the entire time without even glancing up.

How about the kids that only stay quiet at restaurants or stores because they are loaded up with their parents’ phones and tablets?

It is hard to not overuse the technology as a tool. I have been guilty of this. But I am trying not to be.

In a world where you have a portable computer at your fingertips, don’t forget to give priority to the things in life that truly matter.

Source of quote: Shape Magazine, Oct 2012

Edited by Jody Smith