Walking home from work on a beautiful snowy afternoon a few years ago, I felt a surge of gratitude for a moment. The sky was painted in shades of pink and purple, and the air was crisp and fresh.
As I turned the corner, I saw a man walking ahead of me who looked like he had also just come from work. Behind him, two children followed, wearing backpacks and winter coats. They looked like they were his son and daughter, and they were about the same age as my own kids.
I smiled at the sight of the family bond. The children were looking around, taking in the scenery. They pointed at the birds and tried to imitate their sounds and movements laughing at their own jokes. They seemed happy and curious, eager to explore the world.
But as I got closer, I realized that something was wrong. The father was not looking at the children. He was not listening to their chatter or responding to their questions. He was not enjoying the beauty of the winter wonderland around him.
The father did not notice them. He was too busy looking at his phone, scrolling through messages and emails, or maybe checking the news or social media. He did not look up, even when the children called his name or tugged at his sleeve. He did not smile or respond. He just nodded or muttered something and kept walking.
I felt a pang of sadness and pity for the father and his children. He was missing out on a precious moment to connect with his kids and share their joy and wonder. He was wasting his time on things that did not matter and could wait until later. He was not present with his children, giving them his full attention and love.
But then I felt another emotion. Shame.
I realized that I had been in that situation many times myself. I had often fetched my children from school, with my mind preoccupied with work or on the phone with a client or checking the latest emails on my phone. I had often ignored their questions or stories or told them to be quiet or hurry up.
I realized that these moments with my children were my most precious and meaningful ones.
So that day, I decided to make a change. And it all started with a simple rule.
Put your phone on silent mode and leave it in your bag!
No more neglecting my children and wasting my time on my phone when we are together. No more missing the magic of the present moments together that will never come back.
From that day on, I made a conscious effort to be fully present with my children whenever we were together. It was my gift to them, but I soon realized that I was the receiving one.
I learned so much from my children. I learned to be more curious, playful and adventurous. I learned to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around me. I learned to slow down, breathe, and enjoy life’s simple things. I learned to be a better parent, a better person, and a better friend.
I am so glad that I made that change. It has improved my relationship with my children and my happiness in so many ways.
And it all started with the simple rule of putting my phone on silent mode and leaving it in the bag.
Leave feedback about this