Disclaimer: I feel like such an old person saying this. But, have you ever been at a restaurant and looked around and noticed 75% of the people eating there are all on their phones? Or when you’re just walking around – in the mall, down the street…almost everyone is looking down at their phones. If you haven’t noticed this…try going somewhere without your phone and you will definitely feel naked and notice how NO BODY goes without their phone these days. Myself included!
Before we had Shiloh, every now and then I’d try and be conscious about not being on my phone as much – especially when I was with friends or family. Since we’ve had her though, I’ve had to be way more mindful about putting my phone away. I try and carve out specific times where I won’t have my phone out at all with her. Often times I’ll leave my phone at home when we go for walks, I’ll try not to bring it into her room at night when I nurse her before bed, in the mornings when we are having playtime before Michael wakes up I’ll leave my phone in the kitchen, etc.
This might seem kind of silly because Shiloh is only 9 months old and doesn’t know what a phone is. But, I am mindful about going sans-phone for a few reasons. 1) Shiloh definitely knows when I’m on my phone, because she reaches for it. Even at this young age, she is drawn to screens. I want to do my best to limit her “screen time” as much as possible. I also want Shiloh to know when I am with her, I am with her. She has my full attention, and is more than worth spending time with. Similar to when you are hanging out with a friend and you want them to know that you value your time together…I also want Shiloh to know that!
Another reason I am conscious about having time with Shiloh without my phone is to work on being present. When you’re trying to multi-task all the time – ie: play with your baby but also scroll through instagram or check emails…you aren’t really making memories. You probably won’t remember those “multi-tasking” moments the next day, because you weren’t mentally present. You were in two or three places at once. I’ve noticed the times I’m with Shiloh, without my phone, we make the sweetest memories that LAST. When I take walks with her without my phone, or play on the floor with her in the mornings without my phone, or read to her at night without my phone…these moments hold such a special place in my heart because I am fully present with her and not distracted by a phone.
Michael and I are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place where choosing to leave our phones at home is a pretty easy decision! Colorado summers are SO beautiful, and we’ve recently loved taking Shiloh to Chautauqua park on a pretty afternoon to enjoy the sunshine and gorgeous weather! When we do outdoor activities like this, or go for hikes, we try and leave our phones in the car or just not get them out while we are enjoying time together as a family. I’m so glad I recently discovered Ozark Trail at Walmart for these types of outdoor activities! This brand literally has EVERYTHING you need to enjoy the outdoors – from hiking and camping equipment, to coolers, tumblers, great folding chairs and more. And you would not believe how good their prices are!
We got these folding chairs for under $40 each and the quality is SO good and they are super comfortable! This folding wagon has also been really convenient to carry all of our stuff in for an outdoor picnic. I’ve figured out you need WAY more stuff than you’d think when you do any outdoor activity with a baby haha so the wagon has been perfect for that! We also love to bring this hydration backpack with us – whether we are hiking or just enjoying a summer day outside. It’s great for carrying Shiloh’s necessities and I love that it’s another way for us to carry water! This cooler has been a great purchase for us + something we use ALL the time – backyard parties, summer picnics, etc!
I’ve so enjoyed these beautiful summer days, soaking up the sun with my little family. The weather has been perfect and watching Shiloh take in nature and everything around her has been so fun. This sounds so cliche to say…but life (especially life with Shiloh) goes by way too fast. And being on your phone all the time makes you miss out on so many beautiful moments – both big and small. This is something I have to work on + be conscious about every single day. Choosing to leave my phone at home has allowed me to be fully present with my family and make lasting memories. I want to encourage you to try and do the same this week! Go for a walk without your phone or enjoy a date night with your husband, leaving your phone at home. You will find it forces you to really be present, which in turn allows you to make lasting memories!
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More outdoor necessities from Ozark Trail:
This post was created in collaboration with Walmart. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
xo Lauren
