For the holidays, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and babies flock to our Brooklyn home. I love the happy chaos of a packed house, but the only catch is that over the past few years I would sometimes look around the living room and see almost every adult and teenager on their cell phones.
“Let’s play Monopoly!” I once said as I tried to gather everyone around a board game at the coffee table. “That’s it,” cried my cousin, without looking up, and pointed across the room at his father. “Oh, yeah,” I said. They were playing online.
but! Two years ago, my cousin Jeremy, a father of two now living in Pittsburgh, has a generous laugh and can whip up a pasta feast second to none. godfather“What if we banned phones in common spaces? Adults can check their messages in their bedrooms if they want, but otherwise phones remain off-limits on holidays.”
I liked the idea, so his wife Meredith pitched it as well, and we were all on board.
jeremy and meredith
That holiday was the best holiday ever. The teens played peek-a-boo with the babies, pretended to nap on the couch, giggled and tried to wake the babies, and the adults debated the answers. new york times As I worked on the crossword puzzle, my uncle inevitably ended up nodding off in his armchair.
Since then, all family gatherings, including summer holidays, weekend visits, and Thanksgiving, have been held in common spaces without phones, and this has made a huge difference. Why not try it out if you feel like it? I’m so happy just by existing go down In a room full of relatives, especially if the last time you did it was when you yourself were a child.
Have you tried anything similar? What are your other favorite holiday traditions?
PS How to host a holiday cookie exchange and fun one-rule game for the holidays.
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
