When my husband came home from work, we all gathered around the table with a big bowl of pistachios and coloring pages for the bank’s coloring contest.
The kitchen still needed cleaning. The mail was unsorted. The pistachios weren’t cheap, and we ate a lot of them. The coloring should’ve been done weeks ago. Yet in that moment, none of it mattered.
Lately I’ve been craving more screen-free time. (Can a blogger even say that? Because I just did.) I long for slow, simple moments of real life with my family, moments where we can sit, breathe, and enjoy each other’s company without rushing.
I love times like these with my little family. They’re a quiet reminder that real relationships, face-to-face and unhurried, feed the soul.
I still enjoy seeing friends’ lunches on social media, but I’d rather be there in person. When I see a parenting question posted online, I wish I could meet for coffee and talk it through. It feels like so much of life has shifted to screens, where we either vent without fixing or share only the highlight reels.
As a mom, I’m also careful about what I post, who might see it, and how it will be perceived. There’s so much freedom, though, when my phone is on silent and I’m sitting at the table with paper and crayons, curled up on the couch with a blanket and a book, or out in the woods with the kids collecting leaves.
Simple really is better.
For me, motherhood feels lighter when I’m unplugged more than I’m online. Yes, it’s meant fewer page views, less income, and fewer “fans.” But at the end of the day, the only “fans” I truly need are the ones living under this roof. They don’t care whether mom brings home an extra $500 or $50. They just want my time, my attention, and my presence. Thankfully, my husband feels the same way.
Whatever kind of calm you’re craving, go for it. Truly. Just go for it.
If your calm looks like more screen time, that’s okay too. As I often remind myself, you do you, I’ll do me, and together we’ll praise Jesus. We’re each made in His image, but we’re not called to live life identical to one another.
Find your calm. Find your greatness. And don’t be afraid to choose what matters most.
I think it is way too easy to hide behind the screen and not take time to cultivate those real relationships that are really so important. Spending time coloring and eating expensive pistachios sounds like a great family night as well. It sounds to me that you have found a great balance in your social media life—being careful of what you post while still maintaining a presence. It’s a tricky balance but you certainly have the right attitude! 🙂