Recently, we had a mid-winter break, and for the most part, my family and I were home together. With a few snowy days and temperatures plummeting, we even had our car in the shop for two days. We managed to venture out for a movie and a bit of indoor play, but the majority of our time was spent cozied up at home.
Admittedly, there was probably a bit more screen time than I would have liked. We engaged in a couple of science experiments featuring cornstarch and dish soap, along with some fun brownie-making (and, of course, indulging in the leftover batter). If you asked how we spent our week, I might have shrugged and said, “Not much.”
But let me tell you how much I enjoyed that week of doing ‘nothing.’ It turned out to be one of my favorite family vacations. While my social media feeds were filled with friends basking in tropical sunshine, I found joy in being at home with my loved ones.
At times, I caught myself feeling a tad guilty. Shouldn’t we have made the most of this rare opportunity together? Maybe we could have taken a trip to a museum, seen a Broadway show, or initiated more arts and crafts. Shouldn’t I have been more active or productive? But then I let those thoughts drift away. I immersed myself in the little moments: my youngest playing with cars on the floor (his current obsession) and my older son diving into his favorite books. We shared laughter and tickles on the bed, while my partner and I enjoyed late-night episodes of our favorite shows.
Really, what could be more fulfilling than this? Being with the people I love most is all that truly matters.
Yet, there seems to be an unspoken expectation in our culture to “do” more with our kids, to create tangible memories. Perhaps it’s the influence of social media or the relentless competition in parenting. I often feel it when my son expresses a desire to skip Little League or piano lessons, longing instead for the simplicity of doing nothing. I find myself questioning if I should encourage him to have more activities outside of school. Does he really need to fill his schedule more? This boy, who already has a range of interests from reading to video game design, should be free to just be himself.
We should embrace the beauty of ‘doing nothing.’ We need to allow ourselves the space to simply be. There’s a certain faith in life being rich enough without constant achievements. No one is scrutinizing our every move as closely as we might think. Only we possess the power to determine how we spend our days. Let’s use that power to seek happiness in the simple, ordinary moments we share with family. Life is fleeting, and it makes no sense not to live it authentically.
So, I wholeheartedly give you permission to embrace idleness as a parent, as a family, and as an individual. Just be present—with yourself and each other—and everything else will fall into place.
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In summary, taking a break from the busy demands of life and allowing time for nothingness can be enriching for families. It’s about savoring the simple moments and realizing that there’s beauty in just being together.