Last weekend I challenged our household to go tech free, no video games, no aimless cellphone time and only turning on the tv after dinner for a family movie. I have to be honest I didn't think we'd make it and by Sunday afternoon I was so close to putting on a movie for the kids I just had to get out and find an errand to do. We all experienced some well needed mindfulness and a few things I'm looking forward to doing every weekend.
So how did we do it you ask? What's the secret to a happy home full of 3.5 kids and no screens? Just keep reading ..
Wednesday after school everyone got the memo that this weekend was to be tech free. They were being told this immediately after breaking up a fight about who got to be the pink Kirby in the next level. So I imagine the message sounded more like the background music heard when a character looses the game. And than it's right back to..
"Hold A"
"Jump on him"
"Wait for me"
"NOOOOOO!".
Friday the games ceased to begin. I wrote a list of "Very Fun Things to do Instead" which included: playing cards, drawing, board games or puzzles, playing outside, helping with something AND CHORES ON SUNDAY. I Believe the first thing said was "But can we play the video games tomorrow?"
My absolute most favourite moments took place in the mornings. When the sound of bouncy beds filled the upstairs. Shorty after came the pitter patter of feet down the stairs, the first person awake sat on the edge of our bed. With 1009 things to say about who snored last night. Then the sliding of dresser draws and some bigger step stomps brought the second awakee to our room. With questions about what's on todays agenda. Not too long after our room felt like a play ground for half pyjama'd kids, tumbling about the sheets as we dreamed of just having 5 more minutes.
In-between the "stop jumping!" and "yes we can have pancakes" was a moment of comfy, cuddly, communion. Everyone still had little sleep in their eyes and some drool on their mouths. We listened to all the baby babbles known in Websters Dictionary for Four Month Olds. I heard all the questions that could possibly be asked and answered in a weekend. And in a rare fraction of a minute we had one moment of silence ...or maybe I was just going deaf.
Saturday was mostly taken up by being out and about. So Sunday was really the only full day at home. It started off great, everyone had two chores to do and earned two dollars, we ate pancakes and fruits for breakfast and enjoyed a nice walk to the park than I guess the Gods of technology decided to test our patience.The rest of the day felt like 24 days in one, the kids were starting an activity before finishing the last. They were asking questions, touching just everything , play fighting, real fighting , expressing their boredom, going in and out of the house and I was one breath away from putting on a 12 hour loop of whatever movie they wanted to watch.
I read a quote once, that was much more flowery in wording but basically said, life gives you juuuuussssst what you can handle. And upon exhaling that last breath of patience I heard my phone go off and it sister was texting me about meeting up for a family hangout. Literally saved by the bell!
Monday after sharing stories from the school day there was a short pause and one of the babes said "Hey it's not the weekend can we.."
"yes" I answered
and they all ran to their desired gaming location.
This techless weekend was a perfect refresher after being inside most of the winter . From now until the coming winter we're putting more limitations on screen times. For me being home all the day , it seems every free moment I have I use a portion of it looking and posting on social media. I even loose track of the time and have a moment of uuhhh what was I doing before this .
To anyone looking to detach themselves and the fam from their screens this weekend or just on the daily, DO IT! Bring a book or word search for your commute , go for a nature walk or to a museum. Try it for a day, you may just encounter a moment you can share, like, love, say wow to, or feel sad about for real!
ps. For our next blog date, I will be a biology assignment free woman.
TTFN. ta ta for now .
No comments:
Post a Comment