As with anything in life, the question is, “When is the right time?” When is the right time to get married? When is the right time to have a child? When is the right time to quit your job? When is the right time for anything?
We all have our own way of being in the world and living the life we choose. We all see life through our own lenses, and our perspectives drive us to make mostly the right decisions for us. When someone questions your “right time,” what is the best response? Here’s another question to ponder!
I believe that trusting the decisions we make is the way to go. Others are entitled to question; however, there is always a way to express oneself. As a child, I recall being bombarded with sayings like: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all,” “Fifty million Frenchmen can’t be wrong,” “Silence is golden,” and “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” (which I seriously don’t agree with). Of course, there were many more. However, when pushed too far, I can overreact, and I don’t believe I need to apologize for being human.
So, when is the right time to take away screens, iPads, etc., from a child, teenager, or adult? In my latest reading about screens, the commentary said that removing them is like experiencing withdrawal when trying to quit drugs. All the physical, psychological, and sensory responses are the same as when trying to recover from any addiction.
Enabling screen use is enabling an addiction. As adults, we need to have the courage to say no. We need to take away screens and be prepared for the terrible behaviors that will obviously accompany their removal, knowing that we are doing this out of love and for their own good.
It won’t be easy for them to see this while they suffer through the loss, but…
They will be grateful to you in the long run.
