Embracing the long, carefree and less-stressful days of summer is something I look forward to 10 months of the year. It goes by too fast, surely, but I appreciate it for every day that it’s here. I read a hilarious blog post again last week that highlights what a mommy blog would have read like had it been written in the 70’s or 80’s (if you haven’t read it, send me a message and I’ll send it over!)
More than anything, the blog post really showcased how care free, low-maintenance and vastly different life was for parents back then. Of course, there’s always the flip-side to that carefree lifestyle in 1980. I sat back and thought how different MY life would be right now, mommy blogger and all, if I was doing this in 1980.
Putting aside the fact that I’d be typing this on a gigantic computer half the size of my dining room table, consider how much time I’d have to actually blog? I’d have to ensure all the kids got dressed and ready for school, complete with a jacket for rain and maybe a hat for sun (no Weather Network to help me guess, just last night’s dinner-hour forecast). Once I got home and started my pot of coffee (no drive-thru run for coffee, that’s absurd!) I’d have to get the day’s cleaning done (mopping the floor by hand or with a yucky mop and water at best) and then head out to buy groceries (no ordering online) and of course pay my bills. I just paid the cable bill two days ago, but forgot that the telephone bill is due so it would necessitate going out once again. The good thing, I guess, is that my 5 year old could just hop along on the front seat beside me, right?
Yikes.
Maybe the sunny days of 1980 (which always present as orange and brown to me, why is that?) are not as sunny as we like to think. Modern technology has made our lives so much more busy and yes chaotic but it’s also enriched our lives and made them easier. As parents, now it’s up to us to determine what to do with that technology and how to use it to our benefit.
A few weeks ago, I shared a contest from Scotiabank where they’re highlighting the biggest benefit of online and mobile banking – more time for you to do the things you love. Consider how much time we save now, in 2016 without even thinking about it, by using online and mobile banking! It’s second-nature to me. I use online banking to pay all my bills (including the once-yearly ones like property taxes or home insurance) and keep track and monitor my investments online. In the past few years I’ve also started using mobile banking to quickly send funds electronically to a friend in the moment if we’re out for dinner and we split the tab, for example, or if I want to send my niece a quick monetary gift when I’m out and about.
One aspect of mobile banking that is very new for me (even my older sister has been doing it before me!) is cashing a check using my mobile device. I am such a paper-person, in that I love having notes, charts, and more notes (have I mentioned my lists to you?) so snapping a photo of my check and instantly cashing it this way has been a bit for me to wrap my head around. I’m getting there though!
All things considered, I’d still choose to live and parent in 2016 more than any other time. We have amazing advancements and our time is viewed as important more than ever before (consider a boss’ understanding of your parenting needs in 1980, oy!) The #MyFreeTime contest from Scotiabank is an excellent way to remind us all about the importance of that time, seeking it and appreciating it.
Comment on Scotiabank’s Facebook page here or Tweet @Scotiabank using the hashtag #MyFreeTime with your answer, and you could win 1 of 3 $1500 grand prizes or weekly gift cards! Good luck to all those that enter, and happy Summer 2016 to you!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, but my views as always remain my own.
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