Reflection 61: Present Over Distracted: Reclaiming Time with Our Children

It is easy to forget how much of our lives are consumed by technology. Phones, television, endless scrolling—it all fills our time so quickly that we hardly notice what we are losing.

People often talk about feeling restless or empty after hours of scrolling, like they are missing something. And in many ways, they are. They are missing time with God. Time with their families. Time building real relationships that actually satisfy the heart.

We are given one life on this earth. Yet so much of modern culture encourages distraction, consumption, and constant noise. It slowly pulls us away from what matters most.

In our home, we have made intentional changes. When I get home in the evenings, I put my phone away and do not pick it up again until right before bed. I check it in the morning and occasionally during the workday, but I have realized I do not need to be constantly connected.

The same goes for television. We keep it off during the week and limit it to a short window on weekends—usually one to two hours. And we have noticed something important: when the TV is off, our home is calmer. There are fewer tantrums, less whining, and more creativity, conversation, and peace.

Our kids learn how to play. They learn how to talk. They learn how to be present.

When screens increase, so does the chaos. When they decrease, connection grows.

The truth is, many of us say we do not have time—for prayer, for family, for meaningful connection. But we often have time for social media, videos, and endless content. The issue is not always time. It is priority.

There is nothing wrong with podcasts or audiobooks or even entertainment in moderation. But there is a right place for them. For me, that is in the car or during moments when I am alone—not when my family needs my attention.

Our children are watching us. They are learning from what we model. If they see us constantly on our phones or distracted by screens, they will follow that example.

But if they see us engaged, present, and attentive, they will learn what it means to truly live and love well.

This is not about perfection. It is about awareness.

It is about asking ourselves a simple question: what is shaping our days—and is it leading us closer to God and our family, or further away?

Because at the end of the day, our children will not remember how many videos we watched or how many posts we scrolled through.

They will remember whether we were there.