{"id":2248,"date":"2010-08-09T15:33:48","date_gmt":"2010-08-09T13:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=2248"},"modified":"2022-06-09T21:47:59","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:47:59","slug":"the-smartphone-monster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/parenting\/internet\/the-smartphone-monster\/","title":{"rendered":"The Smartphone Monster"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am a stay at home mom with many interests and passions, but my primary focus is to keep my family balanced, happy and healthy. I have a Smartphone which I use all the time, and find very helpful but also very distracting. \u00a0I love my calendar (since my husband\u2019s and kid\u2019s diaries are super complicated) and I love the camera \u2013 great for taking spontaneous pics\u00a0 all the time. My kids seem to love the games on it and I can actually get a quick response from my busy corporate husband on the Smartphone messenger when I need it. \u00a0I can even update my Facebook whenever I like. So it is a very cool, fun and useful tool for me to have.<\/p>\n

So at the beginning, I enjoyed the efficiency and diversity of applications that I had at my disposal 24\/7. But then I realised that I was getting hooked into a world that always seemed in a hurry and always took my attention away from the present moment. I may have been watching my daughter\u2019s netball match when an sms popped up. It really could wait, but the beep and the light caught my attention and before I knew it I was frantically typing my reply and missed a netball goal.<\/p>\n

Between the e-mail and the sms\u2019s, the actual phone and the Facebook alerts….I kept jumping between scenarios, which was draining my energy and certainly not allowing me to feel the reward of spending time focusing and concentrating on one goal\/activity with a single mindedness that leads to excellence and peace and calm.<\/p>\n

My kids complain when they want my attention and I\u2019m absorbed in my Smartphone.<\/p>\n

I told them it was a monster who had captured me in its long tentacles and they had to wrench me free…they laughed, enjoying the picture in their minds and imagining themselves real heroes who would save their Mummy.<\/p>\n

So, are you a target of the Monster?<\/p>\n

Read it and decide for yourself….that\u2019s if you can put your Smartphone down for 5 minutes.<\/p>\n

The Smartphone Monster
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

She\u2019s smooth and she\u2019s sleek
\nRobed in an elegant black dress
\nAnd jewelled in dazzling diamonds
\nShe waits, she watches, she sings, she smiles<\/p>\n

With hypnotic powers
\nThat dazzle and delight
\nShe draws you into her world
\nBe it daytime or night
\nShe lures you, tempts you
\ncatches you, grabs you
\ntraps you & squeezes you,<\/p>\n

You\u2019re running in her world
\nyour e-mails are climbing
\nYour messages \u2018pinging\u2019
\nYour calender\u2019s buzzing
\nYour camera\u2019s rolling
\nYour music\u2019s pumping
\nYour facebook\u2019s flashing
\nYour virtual world is rushing by
\nAlive and Exciting
\nBut a little bit cold
\nAnd a little bit shallow<\/p>\n

When she beckons your fingers get curled
\nYour back gets hunched
\nAnd like a lovesick fool
\nYou\u2019re unable to avert your eyes from her gaze<\/p>\n

She plays the loyal servant
\nWho never leaves your side<\/p>\n

Yet, bit by byte , she enslaves you
\nTill the ones you love, the \u2018Real\u2019 people
\nNeed to ask her permission to access you<\/p>\n

Sad, but true
\nThe Smartphone Monster is out to get you
\nCan you Escape?<\/p>\n

She clings to to your ear
\nLike a super sucky glue
\nIs that a new age earring?
\nOr are you tagged by the Smartphone Goddess
\nWho sits high up in the Universe
\nAnd controls little unsuspecting e-humans
\nWith digital sounds and semi-words
\nWhich have conquered and destroyed \u00a0the beauty of the English language
\nAnd the simple pleasure of long deep conversations<\/p>\n

Of course she\u2019s fun, she\u2019s fabulous, she\u2019s smart, she\u2019s sexy
\nAnd you think she\u2019s a super helpful efficient friend
\nBut is she waiting at your fingertips,
\nOr are you waiting at hers?<\/p>\n

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