I was appreciating my family photos on my computer, admiring my two beautifulbabies, when I found a disturbing trend: my laptop was open in almost all thepictures. There was my daughter, 8 months old, playing at my feet while I wastyping away on the couch. There was me and my son, with the laptop at my sideas I held him in my arms.

I'dheard about the Internet addiction before, but always assumed it was somethinglimited to socially challenged guys  whoplayed too much World of Warcraft (a computer game). Now it seemed my Internet“habit” is slowly but surely crossing the line. Sometimes I find myself up atmidnight, surfing the  Web while myfamily are sleeping. I read news, keep up with friends and write my blog...just for something to do.

Itturns out that I'm not the only mama who is addicted to the computer. Thesemoms are contributing to a growing global addiction. There's a movement among psychiatrists (doctors whospecialize in mental diseases) to recognize the Internet addiction as anofficial mental disorder. And a recent Stanford University national surveyfound that 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from itfor  several days at a time; 9 percenttry to hide their “unnecessary Internet use” from their loved ones; 8 percentadmit they use the Web as a way to escape problems.

You'relikely not the kind of addict who doesn't bathe and abuses drugs to help herstay “up” for more online time. You may have noticed, though, that going onlinehas become a necessary part of your life, which, at least, means a load ofclothes go unwashed. It may also mean you're missing much time with yourbaby—something you probably do care about.