Comments on: Guard Your Family’s Unity http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:19:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carmen http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-20648 Carmen Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:42:55 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-20648 I just found this link and noticed my comment from about a year ago. Funny that a year ago my kids had 25 min. each day on the computer...now it's more like 10-15! LOL! I just found this link and noticed my comment from about a year ago. Funny that a year ago my kids had 25 min. each day on the computer…now it’s more like 10-15! LOL!

]]> By: Ama da http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-19902 Ama da Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:28:05 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-19902 I was resistant to get a cell phone for a long time but about three years ago, I was in a minor accident. A big-rig misjudged the distance in a traffic jam and rear ended me. No one was hurt, and the damage was minimal, but I was pretty shaken up. The driver of the big-rig drove off without even stopping. My car was still ok to drive, so I drove home and called the police to report the accident. The response? The police didn't believe me. They said if it had *really* happened, I would have called from the highway. When I said I didn't have a cell phone, they laughed at me and said that I needed to join the 21st century. They also made it pretty clear that they were not going to help me. An officer never even came by to write an accident report. My husband's response was to get me a cell phone immediately. My point is, while we don't need to be glued to technology, when it can make our lives safer, I think it's a good investment. I was resistant to get a cell phone for a long time but about three years ago, I was in a minor accident. A big-rig misjudged the distance in a traffic jam and rear ended me. No one was hurt, and the damage was minimal, but I was pretty shaken up. The driver of the big-rig drove off without even stopping. My car was still ok to drive, so I drove home and called the police to report the accident. The response? The police didn’t believe me. They said if it had *really* happened, I would have called from the highway. When I said I didn’t have a cell phone, they laughed at me and said that I needed to join the 21st century. They also made it pretty clear that they were not going to help me. An officer never even came by to write an accident report. My husband’s response was to get me a cell phone immediately. My point is, while we don’t need to be glued to technology, when it can make our lives safer, I think it’s a good investment.

]]> By: Karen White http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10292 Karen White Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:32:49 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10292 We do have the electronics...Wii, PS2, ipod, computer. However, we find that they aren't used much by any of our children. Sometimes they will get in a "Groove" and play more than normal...but not the norm. I must say that the ipod only has music on it approved by mom and dad, mostly Christian with a few fun 80's type songs. The DVD player in the van is only used for long trips and not for running errands in town. I find we are extremely blessed to have children that could do with or without the electronics, for I have seen many families that have some serious problems because of them. Thanks Kelly for all your great posts! We do have the electronics…Wii, PS2, ipod, computer. However, we find that they aren’t used much by any of our children. Sometimes they will get in a “Groove” and play more than normal…but not the norm. I must say that the ipod only has music on it approved by mom and dad, mostly Christian with a few fun 80’s type songs. The DVD player in the van is only used for long trips and not for running errands in town.

I find we are extremely blessed to have children that could do with or without the electronics, for I have seen many families that have some serious problems because of them.

Thanks Kelly for all your great posts!

]]> By: Missi http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10184 Missi Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:58:18 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10184 I'll be the odd one out and say that the handheld game by Leapster has saved my sanity on many occasions!!! LOL! We mostly only keep them (we have two) for long car trips, and they rarely get played with in the house. I think that saving it for only special times is what makes it so great for us- it's a treat for the kids to get to play them. With an HOUR drive to church and another HOUR back each Sunday, it distracts them from being hungry or tired. I also have another friend who adores her iPhone because she has downloaded audio books and other apps that have saved her when getting stuck in a long line (with 5 little people under 5), having to stop for emergency tire repair, etc. Overall though- I totally agree. Overuse of these items is really more dangerous than anyone gives thought to! I’ll be the odd one out and say that the handheld game by Leapster has saved my sanity on many occasions!!! LOL! We mostly only keep them (we have two) for long car trips, and they rarely get played with in the house. I think that saving it for only special times is what makes it so great for us- it’s a treat for the kids to get to play them. With an HOUR drive to church and another HOUR back each Sunday, it distracts them from being hungry or tired.

I also have another friend who adores her iPhone because she has downloaded audio books and other apps that have saved her when getting stuck in a long line (with 5 little people under 5), having to stop for emergency tire repair, etc.

Overall though- I totally agree. Overuse of these items is really more dangerous than anyone gives thought to!

]]> By: Rachel Falaschi http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10183 Rachel Falaschi Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:52:57 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10183 We aren't the only ones who don't have hand held games?! Yeah! We don't have TV either (vcr,dvd for movie watching only). My sister-in-law has all those gadgets for her 3 boys, guess what? She had to put their oldest on a "diet" because he is starting to get pudgy around the middle. I said she should get rid of all their games and make them go outside to play, then he wouldn't need a diet. Family togetherness is really important. We try to do everything together from grocery shopping to regular errand running. Sure it would be quicker and easier to do things alone, but we would rather be together. When my husband and I were dating, his friends used to tease him for always bringing me along to everything. He always said he saw no need not to since he just wanted to be with me. Yep, he is still that way. We want our children to be that way with each other too. We aren’t the only ones who don’t have hand held games?! Yeah! We don’t have TV either (vcr,dvd for movie watching only). My sister-in-law has all those gadgets for her 3 boys, guess what? She had to put their oldest on a “diet” because he is starting to get pudgy around the middle. I said she should get rid of all their games and make them go outside to play, then he wouldn’t need a diet.

Family togetherness is really important. We try to do everything together from grocery shopping to regular errand running. Sure it would be quicker and easier to do things alone, but we would rather be together. When my husband and I were dating, his friends used to tease him for always bringing me along to everything. He always said he saw no need not to since he just wanted to be with me. Yep, he is still that way. We want our children to be that way with each other too.

]]> By: regina http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10182 regina Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:46:43 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10182 I don't have a cell phone either. I figure that since EVERYONE else has one, if I have an emergency, I'll use theirs. I don’t have a cell phone either.
I figure that since EVERYONE else has one, if I have an emergency, I’ll use theirs.

]]> By: Diane http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10179 Diane Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:26:04 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10179 Wow, another odd gal with no cell phone! I just love it:) In our home we don't have tv (but we do have a vcr for movie watching) We have no video games or anything like that... except for a small game that I can program with my son's spelling words and math facts. He thinks that is a *very* big deal, and I haven't told him otherwise, lol. My oldest daughter(age 22) has recently obtained a blackberry and it is so intrusive that we have had to set some limits. My 18yo dd is completely at the other end of the spectrum- she has no desire for a cell phone. SHe feels that, for many young folks, they have become an idol... and i do see her point. Great thought provoking post:) Wow, another odd gal with no cell phone! I just love it:) In our home we don’t have tv (but we do have a vcr for movie watching) We have no video games or anything like that… except for a small game that I can program with my son’s spelling words and math facts. He thinks that is a *very* big deal, and I haven’t told him otherwise, lol. My oldest daughter(age 22) has recently obtained a blackberry and it is so intrusive that we have had to set some limits. My 18yo dd is completely at the other end of the spectrum- she has no desire for a cell phone. SHe feels that, for many young folks, they have become an idol… and i do see her point.

Great thought provoking post:)

]]> By: Bethany Hudson http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10176 Bethany Hudson Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:58:37 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10176 This is so true. It's something my husband and I talk about a lot because, as far as technology goes, we're not a typical family. My husband works for a *major* software firm here in the Pacific Northwest ;-) So, we always have several cell phones that he is "building" at work, not to mention he is head of an area of graphics, so it's important that he stay current with the video gaming graphics on the market, and he has an xBox that he schedules time a few days a week to play, so he can keep up on the technology. It's kind of hard to tell the kiddos they can't play the xBox when Daddy plays it for work :-P Besides which, my husband and I each have a cell phone, because all of our family and many of our friends are long-distance and it costs us significantly less to have cells than a landline. All that combined, and we're going to have to be very cautious as our kids get older. I think nixing the handheld gaming systems will be a good start. They can all play "Viva Pinata" together on the xBox, but they can't play Game Boy together, y'know? That, and we're going to have to figure out what to do about a phone, because I am NOT giving my preteens cell phones. Just on principle. I didn't have one until I went away for college and they cancelled our campus long distance plan, so I HAD to have a cell phone to call home. Personally, I'm not very fond of them. ~Bethany This is so true. It’s something my husband and I talk about a lot because, as far as technology goes, we’re not a typical family. My husband works for a *major* software firm here in the Pacific Northwest ;-) So, we always have several cell phones that he is “building” at work, not to mention he is head of an area of graphics, so it’s important that he stay current with the video gaming graphics on the market, and he has an xBox that he schedules time a few days a week to play, so he can keep up on the technology. It’s kind of hard to tell the kiddos they can’t play the xBox when Daddy plays it for work :-P Besides which, my husband and I each have a cell phone, because all of our family and many of our friends are long-distance and it costs us significantly less to have cells than a landline. All that combined, and we’re going to have to be very cautious as our kids get older. I think nixing the handheld gaming systems will be a good start. They can all play “Viva Pinata” together on the xBox, but they can’t play Game Boy together, y’know? That, and we’re going to have to figure out what to do about a phone, because I am NOT giving my preteens cell phones. Just on principle. I didn’t have one until I went away for college and they cancelled our campus long distance plan, so I HAD to have a cell phone to call home. Personally, I’m not very fond of them.
~Bethany

]]> By: Word Warrior http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10175 Word Warrior Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:54:45 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10175 <b>Posting for KIM M. who has been unable to leave a comment on this post for some reason ???</b> I totally agree. We have one Tracphone that my husband takes with him to work. I just don't do much running around and it's usually done after he gets home from work so then I can take the cell phone. I do not allow my children to have those types of games either. I mentioned my son's experience of getting in trouble at the Christian school he used to attend for turning around during class because the kid behind him was done with his work and was playing a game boy. Of course he shouldn't have been turning around in class. But I was really surprised that the teacher allowed such distractions in a learning environment. I believe that not only those types of gadgets can hurt family unity, but they can also rob children of imagination. And like you said I am not calling anyone a heathen for allowing them, but I have had lots of mothers tell me they wish they had never started. It almost becomes an addiction. Children seem to NEED the next game and they think about it constantly. Posting for KIM M. who has been unable to leave a comment on this post for some reason ???

I totally agree. We have one Tracphone that my husband takes with him to work. I just don’t do much running around and it’s usually done after he gets home from work so then I can take the cell phone.

I do not allow my children to have those types of games either. I mentioned my son’s experience of getting in trouble at the Christian school he used to attend for turning around during class because the kid behind him was done with his work and was playing a game boy. Of course he shouldn’t have been turning around in class. But I was really surprised that the teacher allowed such distractions in a learning environment.

I believe that not only those types of gadgets can hurt family unity, but they can also rob children of imagination. And like you said I am not calling anyone a heathen for allowing them, but I have had lots of mothers tell me they wish they had never started. It almost becomes an addiction. Children seem to NEED the next game and they think about it constantly.

]]> By: Ericka http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/04/1962.html/comment-page-1#comment-10161 Ericka Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:29:48 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=1962#comment-10161 Amen and amen!!!! Amen and amen!!!!

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