Parenting
The Day Technology Became Obsolete in Our Home
by Samantha Thompson
Updated: Aug. 5, 2016
Originally Published: Sep. 2, 2015
Stage One: Denial
“Very funny, Mom,” my son quipped as he walked toward the television, fully expecting his usual routine. I couldn’t help but chuckle when he discovered the remote was missing—the sole means of accessing the screen. They exchanged eye rolls, convinced I would abandon this experiment. They thought they could endure a few hours of my resolve before I would relent. But I held firm, and soon they transitioned into the next stage.
Stage Two: Anger
The atmosphere shifted dramatically, as their protests escalated into loud shrieks and dramatic stomping around the house. My pre-teen daughter raised her arms in exasperation, yelling, “Why!?” Amidst the chaos, they united in a rebellion against what they deemed the cruelest mother on the planet, even crafting protest signs. A couple of my favorites included:
(Image via Samantha Thompson)
Stage Three: Bargaining
When their appeals fell flat and the Xbox remote remained confiscated, they resorted to negotiation. With sweetened tones, they promised to clean their rooms and even tackle the garage if only I would return their beloved gadgets. “Just a few hours of TV, please,” they pleaded, resembling individuals deprived of their fix.
Stage Four: Depression
The relentless shouting and bargaining took its toll, leaving them exhausted. They slumped around the house, lamenting about the sheer boredom of their existence. No suggestions I made piqued their interest; instead, they chose to indulge in their desolation. One even took a nap, a true sign of surrender.
Stage Five: Acceptance
After a grueling 36 hours, the realization dawned on my children that my stance was unyielding. In this final phase of their technological grief, something extraordinary emerged: a creative blanket fort took shape in the dining room. My once aloof teenager began interacting with his younger sisters, and together they constructed a magnificent fortress of sheets and cushions.
With newfound inspiration, they engaged in a series of simple summer activities. They walked the dog, set up a lemonade stand, explored the backyard for lizards, and even turned the kitchen into a nail salon. My favorite moment was watching my daughters transform a large cardboard box into an imaginary vessel sailing to London (a.k.a. the guest room), complete with tiaras and British accents.
This summer unfolded as I had always envisioned. Of course, sibling quarrels and occasional requests for screens persisted, but genuine conversations flourished, and time seemed to stretch. By the end of the week, I liberated the electronic devices from their confinement. The children rejoiced at the return of their digital companions, but an undeniable shift lingered in our home. They exhibited a slight reduction in their obsession with technology—a small victory, indeed. Perhaps next summer, we will extend this experiment to two weeks.
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Summary:
This article chronicles a family’s experiment in curtailing their reliance on technology, leading to unexpected creativity and bonding. Initially met with denial, anger, bargaining, and depression, the children eventually embraced their situation, resulting in imaginative play and meaningful interactions. The experiment yielded a slight reduction in their obsession with electronics, paving the way for future endeavors.