Quality Time, Redefined

This article from Sunday's New York Times unfolds the lives of modern American families and their love affairs with their electronics. The Vavra family gathered in the living room after dinner to spend some time with each other and at one point, each and every one of them had their nose buried in some kind of screen. She was on her iPad, her husband was streaming a live game on his laptap, their 10 YEAR OLD daughter was playing with some love calculator on the iPhone, and their son was intently involved in a Wii game on the t.v. At least he was getting some form of exercise and stimulation.

I find it sad that some families can't find time to actually spend together without their electronics; that they set time aside to play scrabble on the computer on opposite sides of the room without talking; or how some couples will spend five hours on opposite ends of the couch messing with their laptops and blackberries.

By no means am I saying that my family is perfect and nothing like those described in the article. I admit that I do have my phone on me at all times, and that my younger brother has his ear buds in as he checks facebook on his iPod. My mom spends some time on her laptop for school and the kids enjoy their after-school cartoons. We spend a lot of our time in the living room watching our favorite t.v. shows with each other--especially during NBC's Comedy Night on Thursdays. Sure, we're all watching t.v., but at least we are watching the same thing on the same screen and laughing out loud together. Or sometimes, on a weekend night when we have nothing to do (which is rare), all six of us will huddle on the couch and love seat to watch a movie from redbox, complete with popcorn and lights off. My five year old brother calls this "homemade movie theater."

I also think it's important to spend time away from electronics. We'll play board games sometimes or run around outside, and go to each others sporting events. Today, it's hard to find time to spend together, especially away from electronics. However, it should be a priority to spend family time with each other, not just in the same room.