If you’re one of my friends in facebook or followers in twitter, I’m sorry if I disappoint you of not updating my status every day. If you’re accustomed of me being always available to anyone and everyone at all times before via email, instant messaging, FB chatroom, it’s not the case anymore. You see, my three-year-old son needs me. As long as he’s awake, I want to spend all my time with him- letting him help me with household chores, dinner time, play time, reading time. Especially on weekends when it’s time to unwind with my family, I disconnected myself from online gigs so that they really have me all to themselves. I even informed my friends that my phone is turned off on weekends. I arrange times when to answer emails (usually at 3:00 am), text messages and phone calls.

If you’re a working mom away from home, when you have free time to spend with your kids whether it’s playing at the park, or baking cookies, or reading a book together, spend time with your child without your iPad or blackberry. Your child needs you to pay attention to her or him.

With the advent of email, instant messaging, cell phones, blackberries, iPads, wi fi, 3gs etc., we’ve become hooked in social networking that will lead us to spend lesser time with our family and even time for ourselves.

For work-at-home moms (who are present in body but not in mind because of so many online job that if possible you’re going to make your night day to beat deadlines) , take a walk away from your computer each day for a couple of hours. Make this time a time for you and your little ones to talk, play, read, exercise, plant flowers or do anything else together. The whole idea is togetherness without undue interruptions.

It’s also important to disconnect for your own sake once in a while. As a busy woman, you need to take time for yourself, too – maybe for going for a morning walk or jog, or a quiet few minutes when the kids are napping.

Turn of the phone’s ringer, and let the email sit. Put your blackberry down and take some time for yourself, quietly and peacefully. You must have time to rejuvenate yourself and you can’t do it if you are constantly answering calls, emails and text messages. Everyone will wait for a few minutes or an hour.

In this time of advanced technology, it’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending flow of communication. To be connected in every way can be an advantage in some ways, but it can take a serious bite out of the time you need to spend concentrating solely on your children or yourself.

Don’t cheat your family out of some special time with you. The moments you take with your kids now, while they are young, will always be remembered and appreciated. The moments you take for yourself are no less valuable, giving you a chance to catch your breath.