It has become a bit cliché, telling our kids and grandkids how we spent our summers staying out until dark with no cell phones — no adults knew where we were — and drinking water straight from the garden hose. But that's exactly how I remember it. Texas summers meant swimming lessons at the Walnut Hill Recreation Center and grabbing a carpet square at the public library to claim my spot for storytime. And, of course, epic backyard adventures complete with cardboard-box forts and horse apple projectiles to defend against imaginary aliens.
Typically, when we reminisce about our summers to a younger generation, there's a hint (or more) of judgment about how "kids these days" are attached to their phones. Every generation tends to believe their approach was best. But if we're honest and examine our own phone use, are we truly any better? I'm certainly not passing judgment on how others use their phones or guide the young people in their lives. I can't imagine the challenges of parenting in this digital age, and I admit I love my phone and the ways technology enriches my life.
Yet, I've started noticing the subtle ways my phone shifts the rhythm of my days. It's my companion first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Often, I glance up after a 10-minute scrolling session, realizing I intended only to check the time. It's much like those moments when we drive down a familiar highway and suddenly realize we've been on autopilot, physically present but mentally elsewhere, disconnected from the scenery and experiences around us. I find myself craving that attention and energy back, to more fully experience the connections right in front of me.
So, this summer, I’m trying a personal “Summer Tech Reset,” inspired by Tiffany Shlain’s “24/6,” which suggests a “Tech Shabbat”— one screen-free day per week. I’ve bought an analog alarm clock so I can charge my phone in another room, and I’ve begun to turn off my phone rather than just flipping it over when working or spending time with someone. I’m sure our circumstances differ — but perhaps you’ll feel inspired to consider your own reset, personally and with your family, if that feels appropriate. It’s not about the specific decisions — maybe it’s a certain time each day to put the phone down, or choosing one day a week—but rather approaching the reset intentionally. As summer unfolds, perhaps we'll discover how much attention and energy we can reclaim and carry that intentionality forward into the fall and beyond.
Even as times change, many summer traditions endure. Kids today can still stake their claim at the library through programs like the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte's Center for Education Sweet Reads Summer Reading Challenge, running from June 4 through August 22. Children ages 2-12 track their reading by coloring ice cream cones, earning prizes and even a TCBY frozen yogurt coupon after completing ten books. And kids still splash around at the Levine JCC pool, strengthening friendships formed in religious school, Charlotte Jewish Preschool, or Charlotte Jewish Day School. However you choose to spend your summer, let's stay connected! While the Charlotte Jewish News pauses its print edition in July, we'll stay connected online, and yes — I get the irony. Follow us on Facebook for updates and stories, and make sure you're subscribed to our emails (You can subscribe at www.charlottejewishnews.org) for uninterrupted Chai Lights email event announcements. Because let's face it... we're not totally ditching our phones this summer. Enjoy your summer, and we'll see you again in August— perhaps with a surprise or two!
I will see you again in August — perhaps with a surprise or two!