Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Family Time vs Social Networking - The Balancing Act

Last week, I was home sick and took advantage of that fact by trying to do some catching up on blog reading.  I opened my google reader (yes, I think some virtual dust flew off in the process) and of course there were 1000+ posts there.  I couldn't tell you the last time I've done that...opened my google reader to sit down and read posts.  It seems like there are more and more things these days pulling me away from my beloved blog reading.  Children, for one seem to do just that.  With the addition of a third child last September, I rarely have that evening "me" time that the other two would allow.  Emily requires that snuggly "mommy" time in the evenings and who am I to deny her that.  After all, I LOVE it.  This also gives me an excuse for this excess weight I've gained over the last year.  When Emily crawls in mommy's lap, everyone else wants to follow suit.  So, I have to have an ever expanding lap for my growing children.  ;)

Facebook is my other down fall.  Hello, my name is Tisha and I am addicted to Facebook.  It started out as a harmless way to keep in touch with a few fellow bloggers, some family, and then it esculated into much, MUCH more.  Now I seem to have a mild, okay obsessive case of addiction.  I am a Mafia Wars addict.  I also have a beautiful Farmtown Farm that I maintain on a daily basis.  This requires harvesting, plowing, planting, constant rearranging and such.  Not to mention all of the gifts that my gracious neighbors and family send me on both games that have to be accepted individually.  Once gifts are accepted on Farmtown they have to be distributed on the farm (or sold if I already have a gazillion).  This type of thing takes time!!!  There is also status updates.  I have to know when my sister's friend is taking lunch and where she is eating.  I also need to know when my neighbor's next doctor's appointment is going to be.  (Just kidding!!!)  Some people actually do post important thing on their statuses.  That is how I found out about the deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcet, AND Brittany Murphy.  I also have to come up with witty statuses to post for myself!

But, I tell ya what.  It is hard for me to keep up with the daily ongoings of my three children, the hubby, the dog, help run a business, keep up with my DVRed television shows, clean house, do laundry, write blog posts, read blog posts, Facebook, Farmtown, Mafia Wars, and Twitter.  Gosh, I'm tired just thinking about all of this.

I have decided that I am giving up Facebook games for now. I want to get back to my blogging roots. There's just no time for both. I can sit down and open my Google Reader and for that thirty minutes or more that I spent playing games on Facebook, I can be reading YOUR blogs. So, to all of my Facebook friends I say THANK YOU for your support in being neighbors and allys in my two favorite games. It's been fun. To my blogging friends, I say HELLO! I've missed you and I'm back. I will be trying my hardest to read at least some of your posts each and every day. I am also adding new folks to my reader. So, if you want to exchange links or visits, just let me know!

21 comments, add yours here:

storyteller said...

Ah ... welcome back ;-)
I've ignored MY reader for far too long as well, but I opened it over the holidays ... found 1000+ posts, blew off the 'virtual dust' and did some updating. I deleted folks who haven't posted anything in the past year, added some new photo bloggers I enjoy visiting these days, and reorganized the 'groupings' hoping that might help me a bit. I guess time will tell. I don't know how folks manage Facebook, Twitter, and the like because I can barely keep up with email and blogging while living MY 'real' life. Happy New Year ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

Deb said...

That's one big reason why I never do any of the games on Facebook. I have enough to fill my time with already. ;)

I finally got through my entire Google Reader for the first time in months and am trying really hard to actually read posts when they're written instead of months later when I feel silly commenting. It's a hard thing though, to find balance between family and blogging (both writing and reading). I find I've really missed the community I came to love so much though.

Sandee said...

Welcome back Tisha. I've missed you and you have no idea how big I smiled with you left a few comments over at my place. Good for you.

Have a terrific day. Big hug and lotsa lovies. :)

LAC said...

Yay! I am right there with you. Though working for the gov't affords me the time in the morning to clear out my google reader, I don't always have time to comment. But I am trying harder. I know its been awhile, you might have to update your reader with my new URL shutterbug8162.blogspot.com, just in case.

I still can't give up Farmville, I think its cathartic. I enjoy the clicks and the growing and the harvesting. lol. But I am close to ditching Cafe World, it locks up too much.

Leann Guzman said...

We went on a ski trip over Christmas and we had no internet up on the mountain. For the first day (or two or three) I felt so cut off and out of touch. But then, after the detox, I found it was a relief not to have to check Facebook and Twitter every ten minutes to see what's going on. I enjoyed being with my family WITHOUT INTERRUPTION!

I still haven't gotten back to using the internet as much. It sort of was a wake up call that even though I joked about being addicted, I think I really was, and I don't want to go back to that.

Chris said...

I'm attempting to get back into blogging as I do miss the bust community feel of 06-07 (the good old days!)

Sometimes with Google Reader you just have to click 'mark all as read' and then start again....

Linda said...

I know what you mean about Farm Town, that's the only Facebook game I play and I rather enjoy the ridiculousness of the whole thing!

Still, it is a major balancing act to run a home, raise children, have a job, spend time on the computer, and still have time for yourself every once in awhile. It's a balancing act, though, that I think you'll be able to pull off without falling off the rope - it just takes practice!

Nice to have you back and commenting, though. I definitely have missed you and some others who used to come around (like Mo ... hint, hint!). You all have become so important to me and it's nice to have you stop by on occasion and say 'hello'!

Akelamalu said...

I am on Facebook but I very rarely go on it. I much prefer blogging. It's nice to see you back. :)

Lori said...

Tisha, I know exactly what you mean. I feel so guilty some nights when the kids want me and ask me to put my computer down. Now that is sad. My goal is to give more time to my children and less time to my computer.

Unknown said...

facebook is so ADDICTIVE! :P
but great post anyway. :)

happy new year!

Unknown said...

owh...im still jealous about the snow! :D

Anonymous said...

I don't play any Facebook games at all. I so know what you mean about the reader! If you miss a few days the sheer number of posts can be daunting! And I have the cats blogs, too! But I simply remind myself that my responsibilities must always come first, and quite often other things I enjoy!

And besides... I started blogging for my own pleasure! I try not to put pressure on myself about anything, but especially things that are supposed to be a pleasure!

Maggie Moo said...

I had to stop with games too. I didn't get too into all of the ones everyone else did, but the ones I did use, I used a lot. Especially when I was unemployed.

PS. I hope your little angel feels better now that she's got meds and the inhaler.

Heart of Rachel said...

Happy New Year Tisha!

I can really relate to your post. I have been hooked on several FB games too which resulted to my blogging lapse. I also want to go back to my regular blogging. I might do the same and give up those addicting games.

Mamma M said...

Haha hey thanks for explaining farm time...err...farm city....farmville? I kept getting invites and just ignored them bc I was too confused. What's funny is that I have some old friends who STILL have not responded to my facebook messages, but have tried to send me farmville gifts instead. But I totally understand the difficulty of blog reading and taking care of kids. Especially 3! I'm only on two, and I'm barely getting by!

Alice (in BC Canada) said...

Oh Tish, I sO understand. Facebook for me has included: FarmVille, Farm Town, Lil Farm Life, Country Life.... and PathWords. Sheeesh!! I have recently quit playing these games, except for PathWords, and at least for now. At least PathWords takes some brain power and co-ordination of sorts, so I can tell myself it's exercising my brain... not just being a total waste of good time.

Yup, I too am rededicating myself to blogging, both posting & reading other blogs. I must admit though, that FaceBook does have its good points. Thru there I have re-connected to an old friend I first met when I was 14... on Friday I'll be 54! Too Cool!!

Misty DawnS said...

I read this post with a smile on my face and a feeling of gratitude that someone feels the same as I and has made the same decision as I.

Three jobs (one of which requires a 45 minute drive one-way), online college, a farm, marriage, three dogs, photography sites such as flickr and other forums, blogging, facebook... I couldn't do it all, and I was putting myself into a depression!

I finally took a step back and realized that farming virtual crops on a social network was NOT something worth stressing over... it's NOT a responsibility.

So, I decided what was really important, and I realized that one thing I needed was to go back to doing some of the things I used to do before the internet took over my life. Now, I'm still working, attending college, married, etc... but I'm also back to reading for enjoyment (gosh I missed it), and my time spent online is spent more on my blogs and working towards the photography dream.

P.S. Sorry for the long comment, I'm just so amazed at how much we can relate about this!

katherine. said...

you are not alone...smile

I never allowed myself the facebook games...but I can so relate to the rest of what you have said...

Shannon said...

So TRUE! Today while I was on facebook (sitting on the floor with my laptop), my son came over and put his face right between mine and the screen and said, "Hellloooo! Mommy! Are you there???"

Poor little guy. His face is where my time should be spent.

Patti said...

Hi Tisha,
I just got up and looked at my comments (I don't get too many) and was happy to see two were from you. Good to hear from you.

BTW, Cam does the whole Chex Party Mix routine alone. He always has. I stay out of the kitchen.

I hear you about Facebook. I pulled back in August. It was taking up so much time. And I wasn't even playing any games. .

It's fun to say hi to people, but I love the blogosphere (when I can get to it!).

I"ll be back for LATSOF

Kristin said...

Thank goodness! I never quite got the facebook games. Now I'm glad I didn't!