A few days back, Brandon wrote up a post on becoming a social media master. You can read his advice here. And, because I think too much, I had some thoughts.
So, now you need to tell me: how do you manage? When do you blog? When do you Facebook? When do you do all the things? Or maybe you just have other thoughts about moms and social media. Lay it all on me. I am all ears.
We homeschool and my oldest is 11, so I pretty much get NO time when the kids are sleeping or not around. So, I basically use social media (blog, Facebook) whenever I can squeeze it in. I don’t have a smartphone, so I do only use social media when I’m at my computer.
I also don’t feel the need to be totally 100% present to my kids every single second. They spend a lot of time reading or playing on their own or with each other, so I have no problem being on the computer when they are awake. I just have to try to make sure I get everything else done (the schooling, laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc.)
I think your final point is a really good one. It is good for our kids to be able to entertain themselves – and more importantly – know they don’t always need to be doing something entertaining.
At what age would you say your kids were able to play with each other and really play on their own for an extended time? My kids are 2 and 6 mos right now.
I’m working on balancing this as well. It’s so easy for social media to take over my time that should be spent with my son. For Advent I’m focusing on only being on social media or the computer in general during nap time or before he wakes up. After he goes to bed is time I spend with the hubby.
I’m interested to hear what other Momma’s do though :-)
That’s a great idea. I think we often only think about prudence and moderation during Lent, but Advent is a great time for this too!
I am pretty non regimented about it. I use social media throughout the day and make sure to ‘unplug’ throughout the day as well. It is a balance though. I’m curious to see other’s strategies…only during naptime would not work in this household (um, with three little critters, naptime is the ONLY time I can clean, etc…and try to scarf down some type of food…and catch up with my housewives (kidding…kind of).
Naptime sure ain’t for nappin’ when you’re a mom. As life goes on, tell me if you ever find anything else that is helpful. FYI I value your opinions about things a whole lot!
I am horrible at this. Getting out of the house helps me because I don’t have a smart phone so that time is always “unplugged”. Also, I’ve started logging out of email and social media when I’m done, then it’s not temptation to just “take a quick peek” and get lost in it. When I have to sign back it, it gives me to time to think, “Do I really need to do this?” and usually the answer is “no”.
Ooh, that’s a really good idea!
This is one of the best tips I have heard! I am going to do that for sure. Thank you!
That is a great tip!
I’m bad at this too (and kidless) esp at work…I really need to stay off! I have heard one good thing to do is to auto schedule things. Schedule tweets in hootsuite or buffer (not sure what program you use for twitter) and schedule facebook updates. Now with fb it’s easy to do. This way it looks like you are connecting with people and posting stuff but you’re not physically in the moment. Then during naps/night/whenever you can respond to people. I do this when I post on days I’ll be at work or mia. I schedule and then check back later on.
That has been a big help for me. When I can, I schedule posts the night before. I have been having trouble figuring out Hootsuite though. Maybe you can school me on it?
Hootsuite was a little hard to get used to but I like it better than tweetdeck now :) I’d be happy to show you a tour :)
I would LURVE that!
I made myself a rule not to check FB or blogs until naptime, and I try OT have “Facebook-Free Fridays” If naptime isn’t really happening for one of the boys, I still get a break at that time of day. Also, I took the FB app off my device, so I actually have to log onto the site, so that helps a lot. AND, I *really, really* trimmed down my FB newsfeed by un-friending people and clicking changing the preferences on people so that I don’t follow them in my newsfeed. I have maybe ten people and a few groups that pop up in my feed, so it doesn’t take as much time. This was the best thing, I think, because now if I’m wondering how someone is, I have to take the time to go find out, and I’ve actually heard news on people the old-fashioned way, instead if just on FB.
As far as kids seeing you with a screen or spending lots of time on it, take your cue from them. I’ve had my son come up and close my laptop on me! ;) You’ll be able to tell when they need more of you. I have one friend who gives her kids an activity, and then does short bursts of things that she calls “mommy jobs” for 15 minutes or less, like answering an email or a call, and then she goes back. Less is more, probably with the screens, but balance is always hard.
Ugh. Balance is so hard. I think staying at home can be really lonely at times. I want adult interaction more than I get it. It makes it so easy to pop online and chat with some friends. I like all of these ideas you have here though. Thank you so much for sharing.
And, I stopped by your blog and was reading your bio. I think you are just a charming person!
I don’t have facebook installed on my phone and am pretty much only on instagram during the day (and that’s still pretty rare). I read blogs while nursing the babies down for their naps, because if I only allow myself to sit there and enjoy the babies I would go completely insane and probably would have weaned them already… I also don’t charge the computer during the day, and once the battery’s dead it’s dead and I’m not on until bedtime. I mostly don’t respond to comments or emails until the kids are in bed either, since it’s hard to do that from my phone and that way I can do it all at once.
I really should take Facebook and Twitter off my phone. Rosie, what is stopping me???
I need to just delete the app from my phone half the time the app doesn’t even work and kills my battery! Maybe I’ll do this for advent and see how I do.
When do I blog? Never, recently. Life is too busy. I try to keep it minimal social media in the evening but like the other poster said, I don’t have to be totally present 100% of the time with Sullivan. He loves playing by himself and his imagination continues to grow.
You’re right, you don’t blog enough! Wait, did you say that? At least I can stalk you other ways ;)