The Guilt Complex

This post is a part of the coComment Parenting Challenge and was written by Role Mommy.

It's 10:48 pm. Do you know where your children are? Well, mine are snug in their beds after their dad tucked them in so I could sit in the den and type away like a mad woman before I get ready to pass out and start another marathon day. I don't know about you, but after leaving my big corporate job I have been working non-stop. Rather than focus on growing one company, the Type A woman that I am went into overdrive and started building two. Simple, make money from PR but still do what I love (that would be the writing and networking with other fabulous moms). But something happened on the way to building my businesses - guilt from my kids, guilt from my DH and my owner inner guilt that makes me take a step back and say hold on a second - it's time to put the work away and make more time for my family.

I guess the straw the broke the camel's back came over the weekend when we returned home from a crabbing trip and I instantly raced to my computer so that I could blog about it. I know I got a bit carried away - since I was away from my trusty MacBook for more than 24 hours. And so, I spent a few hours surfing the web, returning emails, blogging, surfing, reading some of my favorite blogs and by the time I turned around, it was time for the kids to go to sleep. I had actually spent 3 hours online while my kids watched their favorite Nick and Disney shows and when my husband came home from meeting an old friend, he informed me that earlier that day my daughter confided she's not too happy with my addiction to the Internet. In fact, everyone in my household (including my cat) is fed up with my BlackBerry and computer fixation. So much so that they are now putting limits on when I use my technological devices so that when I'm with them, I don't get distracted and focus my attention on them and not a client, or a random Facebook message.

As we near the end of the summer, I've realized that I do need to do things in moderation or else one day, my daughter will tell me to my face that all that time spent in front of the computer could have been spent with her. She's already nine and the time literally feels like it's slipping away from me. My babies are no longer babies and while having a successful career is fulfilling, I don't want to wake up one day and realize I missed out on the best time of my kids' lives because my head was buried in my laptop. I guess it's time to give myself permission to take a vacation. I mean, I am the boss. I've earned some time off for good behavior and maybe if I do take a short break, this overwhelming feeling of guilt will melt away - or at least subside for a week or two.
Now time for the comments - are you feeling guilty that you're not spending enough time with your kids or your husband?

Has technology taken over your life? Speak now and you can win a prize! Leave a comment.
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