The Weekend We Put Down Our Gadgets

Last week, we celebrated my son turning 6. For the first time in his life, he spent an entire weekend without TV or a mobile device. It was his choice, and it quickly became one of the most meaningful experiences for all of us.

He asked us to focus on painting—no distractions, no screens, just him, a picture book full of birds and animals, and us drawing pencil outlines for him to bring to life. He painted with a joy that was pure and unrestrained, mixing colors in ways that only a child could. His birds were a mix of vibrant blues and pinks, not the usual shades of feathers, but the colors of his imagination. A lion, with a mane that was less golden and more a fiery red, roared proudly on the chart, and a giraffe, with spots painted in bright green and yellow, towered over everything.

At first, I thought he had picked the wrong colors. But then I remembered: kids have no borders, no rules—they see the world through their own lens, and their creativity knows no limits. For him, the lion wasn’t bound by nature’s colors; it was a reflection of the world he felt inside. The birds weren’t simply brown or gray, they were alive with every color in his palette.

The real challenge, though, was for me and my wife. We had to let go of our constant scrolling, our "mindless" moments on our phones, and truly embrace the moment. The thought of being gadget-free felt unnatural, almost like a reflex to reach for a screen. But as the day went on, I realized something: we were fully there with him—watching him paint, hearing his little thoughts, and feeling a sense of connection that no screen could offer.

In a world where we’re constantly pulled in different directions by the endless stream of notifications, emails, and social media, a gadget-less weekend felt like an oasis. It was a quiet reminder that life doesn’t always need to be so fast-paced. Without the constant buzz of our devices, we could actually hear each other. There was a peacefulness in the air, an almost tangible sense of togetherness as we painted, talked, and laughed together.

Being present, fully, with no distractions made parenting feel more comforting. It allowed us to connect with our son in ways we had been missing, especially in the everyday rush. Without the temptation of screens, we could focus on him, on his thoughts, his creations, and the way his eyes lit up with excitement as he showed us his painted animals. There was no rush to check the time or scroll through the latest posts—it was just us, sharing a moment of pure joy.

I realized that sometimes, it’s these simple moments that build the strongest bonds. We often think we need to do more to be good parents, but the truth is, being fully present, without gadgets or distractions, is often all we need. Parenting isn’t just about providing things for your child—it’s about providing time, attention, and love in the most genuine way.

As we stepped away from our devices, we found a new kind of connection with our son and with each other. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth every moment. This weekend, in its stillness, gave me a new perspective on what really matters. In a world that’s constantly pulling us in different directions, we found something real in those simple moments. A reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful experiences don’t need a screen at all.

As much as this weekend was a gift, I can’t deny that repeating it will be tough. In our busy, fast-paced lives, it feels almost impossible to disconnect so fully again. The pull of screens, of work, of constant digital noise—it’s hard to imagine another weekend without them. But maybe, just maybe, moments like this don’t need to be perfectly replicated. Perhaps, with the end-of-year break approaching, we’ll have a chance to pause, step back, and rethink how we spend our time. It might be tough to maintain this level of presence every weekend, but the lessons we learned during those gadget-less days will stay with us. The break could offer us a chance to recharge, refocus, and commit to finding a balance that allows us to create more of these quiet, meaningful moments as a family, even in the midst of everything else.

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