I remember arriving from school knowing that my mother would be waiting for me and my brothers at home. Shortly, we would sit down at the table to eat and the typical conversation would always start with: “how was your day at school?” from there came all kinds of answers, some serious and others that made us all laugh and so more doors opened for a long conversation. We spent at least an hour talking after our meal.
When we finished, we sat down to do our homework that meant actually to write in notebooks and reading books. All that was worth it, because in the end I knew that if the task was complete and everything was correct, I could go out and play with my neighbors. What a joy!!!!
Back home dinner was waiting for us, and once again the whole family gathered at the table and shared a conversation. If we watched television we were all together, so my parents knew what we saw.
What beautiful memories of those years! Even today, when my brothers and I get together with my parents, we continue with our “after-dinner conversations” ; with laughter and sometimes with tears.
I know, I am literally speaking of the last century … Today we have technology. The great invention that was supposedly created to make our jobs easier and our lives simpler, isn’t it?
We have these devices called cell phones, which serve to send messages and are small computers, television screens, game consoles and radios. With them, we do not need anything; or anyone else … well, that’s what society makes us believe.
Let’s analyze how we spend our days with those little instruments. But better yet, let’s reflect on how our children spend the day with these.. Today, the first thing they do is to check for any message; they see facebook or instagram to check the status of their friends -which, by the way, are hundreds and many of them are only cyber friends which we can never get to know nor even what kind of influence they have over our kids. And finally, they connect their headphones to listen to music. Have you ever tried to strike up a conversation with someone who is listening to music or watching a screen? It is impossible! We almost have to learn sign language.
These young people arrive to classes where teachers and books have been replaced many times by Google there you can find answersas we like instantly and without great effort. Thinking, analyzing, reflecting, are words of the “last century”. You can not waste your time and wear out your brain doing those little things …
And how about the new spelling? Cut-off and emojis. The sad thing is that this way of writing and the lack of vocabulary are not only in the text messages. Language is necessary in school reports and to engage in verbal conversations. And that is what is alarming: our children are losing the gift of verbal expression.
Finally let’s talk about social networks. Through it we can be informed of everything that happens around the world, but many times we do not know what happens in our own homes. Social media isolates us from people close to us. It makes it easier for our children to communicate with strangers and engage in dangerous conversations hidden under anonymity. I am aware that technology is a great gift for the world, but I can not understand how we have allowed it to become a substitute for personal relationships. We were created to live in relationship, not to be connected to a device all day. An electronic device does not replace the responsibility that parents have to teach their children the value of verbal communication with their peers. I invite you to give yourself a family day without technology. Go out on a Sunday to a park to walk and share a lunch. Try to establish a communication with your children. Maybe at first you are going to get a yes or no answer, but it will be worth it. Let’s try to create memories in the lives of our children where conversation, laughter and tears will be the best memories of their lives.
