Leading your family means you constantly are evaluating what they need to stay healthy, connected to each other, and developing into the best of what God wants them to become. It’s not easy…and it’s not an exact science. We have four kids of which three are teens (well, actually 2.9). For me, it’s been the greatest stage of parenting so far–but man, it takes work!
Lately I’ve been feeling the need for all of us to unplug. We live in such an electronic world (which I love because I’m a huge techno-geek!). But I think we all need to come down occasionally from the constant connection to the world “out there” — and take time to just focus on those closest to us. I know my teens have huge pressures at school and in their friendships. Back in the day, I had pressure also. But when I came home, I could escape. Unless the phone rang…those problems weren’t going to be in my face. In today’s world, students can’t get away from it. With texting and Facebook and email and Twitter and online gaming–those pressures are many times facing kids 24/7. And yes, as parents we limit their digital time, but we have no desire to restrict them from it completely…as that would be no way to prepare them for the realities of the world.
So several weeks ago I started looking for a spot on the calendar for an unplugged weekend. Today, the six of us will be driving four hours north for an extended weekend in a cabin in Manistee, Michigan. It’s very nice–but has no cell service and no internet. And that will help us detox from the world so we are in a better place, as a family, to face it.
What do you do to help your family digitally detoxify?
6 Comments
Tim: Great post! My boys and I are digital geeks and it drives my wife crazy. I agree: we need to get away for awhile and have some true dialogue (where you actually look up or away from the display screen and have EYE contact). Yeah. Hard core stuff like that.
We seem to get sucked in to games and computer monitors too easily (and for far too long) before coming up for air. I applaud your trip to the "wilderness" and wish you and your family a great time. My guess is that it will have a very positive impact.
I'm going to blog about this over at Top Notch Parents and will link back to you. Good stuff.
P.S. My family are GCC-ers and love what you guys do.
TEsting.
My 4 kids are a little bit younger, but we decided to eliminate video games, internet, and television/videos as entertainment during the week completely. We limit ourselves to around 10 hours spread over Friday, Saturday & Sunday. It was really tough the first couple of weeks, but we've all adjusted pretty well. Now the kids call the weekend … wii-kend! BTW: I think it's been harder for me than anyone else.
Tim, I found two things encouraging here: one, was the simple fact that you guys were doing something like that. My kids are still young and unplugged, but it seems my wife and I are always tethered to the WWW. Unplugging for all our sakes needs to be a priority. Secondly, is the fact that you planned this for several weeks and it wasn't a spur of the moment thing. I have been struggling recently with celebrating a consistent Sabbath as a pastor. It's clear to me that having a Sabbath every week means planning weeks ahead. Your post has opened my mind to a world of new possibilities. Thanks.
Thank you Tim. Just got back today from a 7 day cruise. I basically un-plugged for the week and spent quality time with my wife! Thank you for the reminder.
Blessings,
Dave
[...] Pastor who is currently taking his students through the 10 commandments. Tim recently posted on a digital detox his family was taking. Do yourself a favor and subscribe to both of their [...]