By Humna Abdulmateen

As mothers, we often complain about our children’s addiction to gadgets. They’re constantly on
their phones, playing games, or watching TV. Even simple chores seem like huge tasks to them,
if they are asked to get off their devices. On the other hand, we often overlook our own actions
when putting the blame elsewhere.

A few days ago, our internet fiber got disconnected. The only quiet time I usually have during
the day is when I enjoy my coffee while binge-watching a TV show after sending off all the kids
to school. That morning, without the screen, my coffee felt less enjoyable, making me realize
how addicted I’ve become. The urge to pick up my phone and check for signals throughout the
day was overwhelming, leaving me fidgeting.

The real challenge began when the kids got home. While I expected the day without WiFi to be
difficult for them, they easily distracted themselves with playing, chatting, and eventually,
squabbling. This was quite surprising for me. As they behaved like typical kids, I found myself
losing my patience, nagging and yelling as my daily chores remained incomplete.

Finally, in the evening, we all got together and cleaned up the living room. Normally, I have to
remind them daily to pray, but that day was different. We prayed together. After prayer, we
had a meaningful conversation about various topics. I was surprised by their curiosity about the
world, our existence, and other random things!

This experience gave me time to self-reflect as a mother. We juggle so much on a daily basis. In
our efforts to fulfill our duties, we often overlook the simple joys of being present in the
moment. We get easily triggered and resort to distracting our children with screens. While
technology is important, taking a day off from it, letting our children entertain themselves
without worrying about a perfect house, and simply being present with them is incredibly
therapeutic.

At the end of the day, they won’t remember the messy house or the piled-up laundry; what
they will remember are the memories we made playing or laughing together.