Last week, we had a mid-winter break, and the entire family was home together. We experienced a few snowy days, dealt with frigid temperatures, and had our car in the shop for two days. We managed to catch a movie and visit an indoor play center, but for the most part, we were cozy at home.
I have to admit, there was probably more screen time than ideal. We did engage in some fun science experiments—most of which revolved around cornstarch and dish soap. We also whipped up some brownies, and let’s be honest, licked the batter clean!
If you asked me what we accomplished all week, I might have said, “Umm, nothing.” But let me tell you how much I truly enjoyed it! This week of “nothingness” spent with my family turned out to be one of my favorite getaways. While my social media feed was filled with photos of families soaking up the sun in tropical paradises, I found so much joy in being homebound with my loved ones.
There were moments when I caught myself being critical. I wondered if I should have made better use of this rare opportunity to bond. Should we have visited a museum, gone to a Broadway show, or engaged in more art projects? Should I have squeezed in more exercise or writing? How could I give this precious time more significance?
Then, I decided to let those thoughts drift away. I immersed myself in the simplicity of the days. I watched my little one play with cars on the floor (he’s currently obsessed), and saw my older son happily rereading every book in the house (he’s such a little bookworm). We shared laughter, tickling each other on the bed, and my partner and I stayed up “late” catching up on our favorite shows.
Honestly, what more is there to life than being with the ones I love?
Yet, I can’t help but feel the pressure from society to constantly be doing something with our kids, to have tangible accomplishments to show for our time together. Whether it’s from social media, the media itself, or the ongoing “Mommy Wars,” this pressure can be overwhelming.
I feel it when my son expresses a desire to step back from Little League, basketball, or piano lessons, simply wanting to come home after school and just chill. I often wonder if I should encourage him to engage in something more structured. But does he really need more on his plate? This 8-year-old, whose interests range from reading to creating video games, truly just needs to be himself.
Let’s embrace all the “nothingness” we can! Let’s allow ourselves the freedom to just be. We can pursue other interests when we feel ready. We could all benefit from a lot less doing and a lot more being.
I believe in having faith—that life will unfold as it should, and that we don’t need to impress anyone. The truth is, no one is observing us as closely as we think. Only we know what we need or how to fill our days, and we hold the power to choose joy, savor the ordinary moments, and cherish family time. Life is too short to live in any other way than authentically, surrounded by those we love.
So here’s my invitation: give yourself permission to do nothing, as a parent, as a family, as an individual. Just be present—with yourself and one another—and everything else will fall into place.
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In summary, my week of doing nothing with my family was a treasured experience. It reminded me that being together and embracing simplicity can be the most fulfilling form of happiness.