My boys had a VHS tape(that is an old fashioned way to watch movies) when they were little that had a really funny Sesame Street song on it- Put Down the Ducky if You Want to Play the Saxophone. It's really silly. Ernie wants to play the sax but he also wants to hold onto his rubber ducky. As you know, Ernie is REALLY attached to his rubber ducky. He's so attached that it keeps him from being able to do other things- like learning to play the saxophone. This song really made my kids laugh. It's silly. And it doesn't make anybody feel guilty because none of us have an obsession with rubber duckies, right? But, it made me think of something else, something that most of us DO have a problem putting down.
Can you guess what it is?
Where's your phone? Is it in your hand? Is it in your pocket?
Some people sleep with their phones in their hands. Some people sleep with them under their pillows. Most people sleep with them in the same room.
Will you leave your house without your cell phone?
Okay, I'm not actually trying to say that cell phones are bad. I think they are a tool for good. But, they are also an opportunity for a lot of bad choices.
And most of those bad choices revolve around wasting time. I'm not going to spout statistics or make a big argument for this. If you don't agree with me on this you either: 1. Do not have a problem with your phone or 2. You do have a problem and you are in denial.
If you disagree with me, whether it's because #1 or #2, I invite you to try something out once a month for one day a week. If you agree with me, I still invite you to try this challenge.
Here it is.
Put down the ducky (phone, computer, tablet) for one day each week for one month.
It might change your life.
I decided a month ago that I was going to put down the ducky every Wednesday. I "invited" my kids to do it with me. We've done it 4 times now. And it has opened my eyes to two things.
1. I have been wasting a lot of time
2. I have been missing opportunities to spend meaningful time with my kids. They are growing up WAY too fast to keep being so stupid.
At first, my girls were unhappy with me. "What are we going to do? We can't watch TV? MOMMY!"
I'm calling it screen free day. Screens can only be used when necessary, such as for work, homework, at school when required, or for necessary texting or phone answering. So, I'm not going completely crazy on them, but the general idea is to PUT DOWN THE DUCKY SO YOU CAN PLAY THE SAXOPHONE.
What is the saxophone in your life that you aren't learning how to play because of the ducky?
For me, I've been doing Calligraphy again, drawing, writing more, and playing board games with my kids. We visit the library and enjoy a leisurely visit. We read stories together. There was a lot of playing in the snow.
Last Wednesday as we sat around the table playing a game, all 6 of my kids were laughing and making jokes, and my heart was both happy and sad at the same time- happy for the moment and sad at all the missed moments due to letting the TV or the tablet or facebook or a video game be the easier choice with "spare" time. We found time to do a craft, time to snuggle, time to play the piano together, just time to slow down.
It's not that I never do these things with my kids. We do.
But, not enough, not nearly enough.
My youngest asked me last Wednesday if Thursday could also be a screen free day. We were cuddling in my bed reading stories. I held her soft cheeks in my big mommy hands, looked into her eyes that believe every thing I say to her, and answered, "We can do this any time you want."
Sometimes you just need to put down the ducky. Give it a try. Once you get over the shock, it feels like taking a huge breath of mountain fresh air after leaving a boys locker room. Enjoy this little video, so you can have this song stuck in your head too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtWXtSKJ9I
