Reconnect as a family and take summer back, mindfully.
I think about this more than I expected to.
Back in the early 1900s, during the rise of the Industrial Revolution, kids worked 10- to 12-hour days in factories. They were part of a system that needed their time, their energy and their focus. We look back now and say, “That wasn’t right. Childhood should’ve been protected.”
Fast-forward to today — I’m a single dad, working full time, doing my best to show up — and I see something that feels uncomfortably familiar.
My kids aren’t in factories. But they are on screens. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are part of everyday life. I use them too — I get it.
But here’s the part I can’t ignore: My kids’ attention is valuable. And there are entire systems built to keep it. In 1910, it was labor. Today, it’s their attention.
Summer Hit Me Differently
Summer is where this really shows up for me. I’ll plan something — a trip, a drive, even just a day out — and I catch myself looking back and seeing heads down, screens on. We could be somewhere amazing, or just driving together, and it’s quiet … but not the good kind of quiet. No connection. Just … disconnection.
What I Started Doing (Imperfectly)
I’m not the dad who throws all devices out the window. That’s not realistic for me or my life. But I did realize I needed better tools in my toolbox.
So I started small.
1. No devices at the dinner table: This one was non-negotiable. When we sit down, phones are gone — mine included. That part matters. We engage. Not perfectly. Not every night is deep or meaningful. But we show up.
2. Highs and lows of the day: Simple, but powerful.
At dinner, we go around, answering: “What was your high today? What was your low?” It creates space. It teaches them to reflect. And honestly, it lets me into their world in a way I’d miss otherwise.
3. One highlight ritual: Sometimes we keep it even lighter.
“What’s one thing you’ll remember about today?” That question alone has changed conversations in my house.
4. Using conversation tools: One thing that’s really helped me is using “Talking Points — 200 Family Conversation Cards.” It sounds simple — and it is — but it works. It gets my kids talking. It gives them a voice. We use it at the dinner table, on road trips, even randomly when there’s a lull.
Summer Travel
When we travel now, I try to be more intentional. Not perfect, intentional. We do screen-free stretches in the car (even if it’s just 30 minutes). When we get somewhere new, I’ll say: “First 10 minutes — no phones. Just look around.” I’ll ask them what they notice, what they feel, what stands out. And yeah, sometimes they push back. Sometimes I cave. But sometimes … it works. And those are the moments I’m after.
Anthony Cupo is a trained mindfulness facilitator (TMF) from the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the co-owner of Stepping Forward Counseling Center, LLC, and has been meditating for over 30 years.
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