Heading to a destination resort -- mountains or beach or wherever each individual can do their own thing during the day and the group reconvenes for dinner each night -- is common.
When they were younger, my children used to create gifts. I still have them scattered about my home office. My favorite part of the creative process back then was hearing them say, "Mom, be surprised when I give you the _____."
As someone who both consumes and creates content for modern gadgetry, I've wondered: How might our family dynamics be different if we were forced, on a regular basis, into something as terrifying as a traditional conversation?
As time passed, we felt increasingly blessed to have this time together each day, and we began to realize what we were doing was downright revolutionary. Whoever heard of an entire family stopping to do absolutely nothing together?
I yearn for those moments. I yearn for lazy Saturday mornings spent lounging in pajamas -- not for my sake (although, it sure would be nice to catch up on some sleep!), but for our sake. We need them. We cherish those moments. And they are far too rare.
Since Christmas, I have tried to slow down my pace. I am trying to take things more in stride, but doing so can be a very difficult job for a driven entrepreneur.
I dread the day when my daughter is too cool to give me kisses and my son would rather play basketball with his friends than hang out with his mom. But even when they complain, I'll be forcing the tradition of family days.
After a week of malls, crowds, road trips and hotel stays, it felt good to just sit down with the family. We went around the table asking each person what their favorite part of the week was.
I have figured out the art of visiting my family and having a good time with them. I would like to share what always seems to work. I have given this advice to several friends and colleagues, and they all have come back saying how they had a very good holiday.
An outright ban on digital devices won't win your kids' respect -- or compliance. But with a little planning and intentional involvement, you can balance your family's tech activities with much-needed face time. Here's how.
To My Darling Children, I hope you don't mind, but your father and I are spending your inheritance. Actually, it doesn't matter if you do mind because we are spending it anyway and we don't need your permission to do so.
When I was first divorced, spending Christmas with my daughters was extremely important to me. Neither my ex-husband nor I had any idea how to work out holiday time.
It wasn't always like this. I welcomed you into our home, made you part of our family. Soon you were the go-to source of fun, intoxicating, always on, ready. Still, I had my doubts about your influence and your stability.
Many years ago I happened upon a magical island in the Mediterranean. Not understanding what the families around me were saying, I could only observe their interactions -- faces, movements, joy, laughter -- without the distraction of words.
I cannot describe to you how great this pizza was! I have been meaning to tell people around world about the best pizza I have ever eaten, and now I...
While we are all consuming more media than ever, we are doing less of it together. That's why I often find myself switching on the television -- in order to spend some time with my family.
Though it might not be possible to slow down and unplug every time you eat, striving to do so at least one meal a day can help you work more efficiently the rest of the time.
He justifies his actions by claiming, "I have got work to do" but you sense that there is more to it -- that his use of technology comes from an addiction more than a real need.
Christmas is not far away and I'm beginning to think I did it wrong. Outside of my mellow sphere, there are signs that we are not waiting for a holiday, but for the end of the world as we know it.
My declaration for what little time is left of summer is to spend less time sorting and more time being with family and friends, reading and lying out in sun.
I often worry that those things that are most important to me -- spending time with my family, doing my martial arts practice -- are slowly under assault by the very gadgets that I bought to make my life easier.