All things in moderation

I spend WAY too much time online.  Since I've joined Facebook, I fear I'm beginning to neglect my children.  This needs to end. NOW.  I don't know why, but the catalyst was John joining Facebook.  He spends 99% of his time in front of either a computer or a TV screen, nowhe'll be on Facebook WHILE watching TV.  The other 1% he's in the bathroom (even then, with a little screen in his face playing Sodoku on his phone).  This annoys me like you wouldn't believe, and I'm constantly bitching at him to stop playing on the computer and LOOK AT ME!  The other day we were headed to bed, not to sleep, and he actually stopped at the computer to play Mafia Wars!  Obsession level: ADDICTION!

John's the type, however, if you tell him to stop doing something, he'll do it more.  Tell him to hurry up, he'll slow down.  It does no good to bug him to put the computer down because it'll just draw him to it even more.  So, I'm going to do it myself.  Starting today I am going to allow myself to use the computer for personal reasons twice per day.  Once in the morning, once before bed and I am limiting my time to 1 hour each.  That includes checking email, writing blogs, reading blogs, uploading to Flickr, tweets or updating Facebook.  The rest of the day, I'm going dark.  The only exceptions would be to check directions to playgroup or play with Alex on the Starfall site or Skype John on important matters (no more sending him naughty Skype messages just for fun). 

I'm going to turn off the sound so I don't hear the little chime letting me know I have a new email.  Maybe I'll just shut down the computer all together.  I think the internet is awesome.  I could never cut myself off completely.  But lately, I feel like it's gotten out of hand. I'm spending more and more time online and less and less time face to face with my kids, and that's just wrong.  It ends.  Now.