The (online) night before Christmas

The online night before Christmas ... (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore).

'Twas Christmas on the computer, when all through the house

All of us were surfing, and clicking the mouse.

Last minute shopping was happening online

All conversations took place on Skype or Facetime

Statuses updated with photos galore

On Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook and more,

Every image was filtered before we clicked share

We checked in at locations to show we were there.

The children were surfing from phones in their beds

Visions of Minecraft danced in their heads.

My husband checked his email and I did the same

Then clicked Candycrush and played a quick game.

When out on the lawn, there arose such a noise

It was louder than all of our electronic toys

Before I could google to see what it was

My front door opened and revealed Santa Claus.

As I grabbed my phone ready to ask for a selfie

It was snatched from my hands, by a very cross elfie!

"Stop surfing, stop posting, try going offline

Give your children the gift of attention and time

Turn the internet off, stop downloading right now

Play a boardgame or two if you even remember how.

Go to the beach, go for a walk,

Instead of emails, try having a talk!"

The Santa Claus smiled, and gave me smile

"Your modem is broken, just for a while.

In the meantime I suggest you take my advice

Put down your laptop, your phone and device

Live in the real world not status updates

Enjoy what you have, for it really is great.

You don't need the internet to have a good time

Memories are experienced, not posted online."

As I pondered his words, he returned to his sleigh

And gave me a wave as he went off on his way

I wondered if perhaps it had all been a dream

When from the children's room, I heard a loud scream.

"The internet won't work, what has gone wrong?

Can we fix it now, will it take long?"

I went up to their room, and said with a smile,

"Yes it is broken, it will be for a while.

But we don't need to panic, there's no need to sigh

We can have lots of fun, without any wifi."

And as we started a boardgame, I smiled to myself

And thanked Santa Claus and that grumpy old elf.

For this Christmas night, I finally learned

You can't download love, it has to be earned.