When one-year old granddaughter, Violet, sees me on her computer screen. she is full of grins and giggles. She blows kisses, hugs the screen, and talks to me in baby jabbers. However, when I appeared up close and personal in her home recently, she turned sober and suspicious. When I showed up at the breakfast table the following morning, she stared at me with something very close to a frown.
And, it continued that way all weekend. She eventually warmed up to the little cousins I brought along. But I remained that lady who belongs inside the computer. Violet finally allowed me to hold her on Sunday morning, since her parents were on worship team and I was obviously the designated adult in our row. She even snuggled down and got comfy. But, she never smiled.
Today, we chatted on the computer again. Violet exploded into smiles and tried to smear her oatmeally fingers on the screen in an effort to touch my face. She jabbered. She waved. She blew kisses.
I know this stage will pass. Someday Violet will be happier to see me in real life than in living color. But today she made me think. How many of my virtual friends would be thrilled if I showed up in their real life today? What would they do if I came to share face time as an experience, not a technology? And, how would I react if the whole passel of them showed up at my front door?
Violet may be on to something…
O think that is truth right there Kathy. Unfortunately, technology feeds our inner desire to love at a distance, on our own terms, and in our own time. We choose when and how we interact, who we acknowledge and who we ignore. I know God can and does work through any medium, but nothing replaces a true face-to-face relationship in my book.
Oh, pleeeeze show up in my real life! Anytime. Really. Like now would be great. Of course I guess I could show up on your doorstep…
COME!!!! COME ANYTIME!!!! I’ll take you anytime!
Oh, I want to come see BOTH of you. And I’d bring you some homemade chicken soup, Andrea. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t make it. I’d hire a true grandmother.
Kids are so WEIRD. I mean, yes, the comparison – definitely get that. But also, kids are so weird. I’m certain she’s thinking something. Like maybe since you belong far away then if you show up you’re going to take her far away too? I don’t know, but there’s no way Violet doesn’t want you up close and personal. Unless, like you say, it’s a stage.
But, yeah. If social media friendship equaled a real life welcome mat I’d be unfollowing some peeps, like, FAST.
What an interesting thought! I’m with Seren, my friends list would shrink dramatically. Also, if it helps at all, Violet is in a serious stage of suspicion of all people who are not her mother. 🙂
I totally feel the love from Violet. No worries.
I heartily agree with this thought! My kids always tell me “Mom, social media isn’t real”. The way you stated it in this post makes me think they are probably right! And….I would absolutely LOVE it if you showed up on my doorstep…but, of course, Charity and the girls would steal you shortly after your arrival! Which I completely understand!