Screen-Free at Three

In these COVIDian times, we are in front of our screens. A lot. For work, for school, for … fun (??). This week, we declared “Screen-Free at Three.” The idea is simple: after school’s out, I’ll press the proverbial pause button on my workday, and we’ll do some non-screen activities.*

Let’s keep it real. Twelve minutes into Day 1, we had a meltdown because there was only one egg to crack in the cookie recipe, and there was not agreement upfront about who would have the honors. At least once each time this week, I’ve unintentionally, mindlessly opened up my email or texts out of habit (and just as quickly was reminded / shamed by my children that I’m breaking rule #1, which is pretty much the only rule).

Slips and cracks aside, we’ve:

• Baked cookies

• Ate cookies

• Painted

• Made pickles (thanks to Dad)

• Walked in the woods (and stepped in poop)

• Picked up Litter (bag number 1,000 for the year for the modest family tally #GalenLitterGoals and bag number 21,239 in global #Just1Bag2020 movement)

• Played board games (Bird Bingo and Boggle)

• Danced, ate more cookies, and danced some more

Week One Wrap-Up: it doesn’t matter so much what we do, or that we fight, step in poop, or spill water all over our freshly completed artwork (hey, it’s water coloring!). The point is about being together, simply, in these beautiful, three-dimensional moments.

But I could do without stepping in poop for a good long while.

*We decided that the occasional video chat with the Grandparents is a fair exception to the rule. I only hope Grandpa Walter doesn’t try to crack the egg.