Perfectly Human

• My kids learn better and stay focused longer without the distractions (tv, music, games, etc.)
• All of us read more. Also, my son’s reading comprehension has improved significantly. I’ve read several chapter books out loud for entertainment rather than watch TV or movies. Now my youngest asks for books over his “shows.”
• The apartment is much cleaner and stays better organized. Naturally, I add more movement and exercise into my day because I’m not online and find other ways to occupy my time. I noticed more things that need cleaned, decluttered, or organized.
• The first few days with limited or no Internet were creative. I read a lot from textbooks and studies. I started writing and working with an idea. As the days continued, my creativity has been running low. My energy levels are higher though.
• I do spend more time actively teaching and also goofing around. I make a lot of different animal sounds and sing stupid kid songs. It makes my kids laugh to tears.
• It’s easier to spend money on priorities, not impulse buying. I write a list, buy what’s written, and only allow myself one extra thing that’s not listed.

Now, for our Internet detox each of us has a phone with a hotspot. So far, there’s very little difference in the speed or quality of the Wi-Fi from normal household Internet.

Us having our own Internet was a choice that I made after thinking about our homeschooling needs. Both children will have to travel to visit their Dad’s after we move. So… What better time than now to start working on building supportive habits and routines to ease that transition?

They will always have access to their online schoolwork and will have no excuses as to why they can’t complete it, while traveling. One condition though… they won’t get unlimited data until they know how to manage limited data. Only Mom has unlimited, so they’ll still be able to do school work after they waste all of their data on what I perceive as “stupid crap.”

At this point I’m still not sold on an idea of long-term data budgeting. It’s limiting in what’s achievable. New technology and industries require much heavier data usage than what is currently offered in many cellphone plans. That includes both unlimited services (contracted plans and prepaid.) I’m keeping an open mind though.