small glimpses :: photography

when i think about the childhood i want to create for my boys, i want it to be one without constant information.  this is difficult.  very difficult.  the average house in the united states has over 3 televisions and 66% of households watch tv during dinner.  there are even tv's in the family car.  then, add in the video gaming.  and the handheld video games in the car.  and facebook, twitter, blogs...  and all those apps on the iphone.  when does the information stop?  it's everywhere.. all the time.  you see why it's hard to shelter my children and teach them to take it slow.

the other difficult part of this equation is the guilt.  am i sheltering them to a fault?  will they not be "as smart" as other kids who are constantly learning from this information?  the answer is...  i don't care.

i don't care if my boys feel left out when someone is talking about a pop-culture sensation that they've never heard of...  because my boys will have empathy and know how to talk to people that are in the room.  i don't care if they can't beat the latest video game...  because my boys will win at the outdoor games.  i don't care if they don't know how to work all the cool apps on the iphone... because my boys will be able to sit thru a meal with their family without a text coming in and interrupting the meal.

i won't keep they boys entirely sheltered from this media age, but i will limit it.  i am not afraid to turn it off.  especially during a family meal, which should happen at least once a day.  the photos above are small glimpses of small items that i hope my children will remember as they grow.  i hope they remember the smell of coffee and pancakes on a saturday morning.  this is what is important to us.

i plan to start a new series of "small glimpses" on this blog that will hopefully motivate you to think about the way your children are growing up and what they will remember.  i hope you enjoy.  i hope you slow down and notice your own small glimpses...