Hands Free Revolution for Moms

Alright, let me set the stage for you: it's a busy day and you're trying to keep up with work or the volunteer commitments you've made, along with your child's school work. You've got a mile-long to-do list and a packed schedule. So, you're texting, E-mailing and checking voicemail while your children are with you. Does this sound familiar? That's pretty common for many Moms these days -- we are busy!

But, one Alabama Mom is proposing we make a change. Get rid of some of the distractions that technology brings to spend more quality time with our loved ones. Rachel Stafford is a Mom of two girls, and she has an idea for us. It's called The Hands Free Revolution. What that means is that we momentarily let go of distractions in order to be fully present in the moment with someone or something significant to us. Rachel explains, "you don't have to abandon technology totally to live a more hands free life. And, you don't have to drastically change your life. Basically, you just designate time periods each day, whether it's 20 minutes or two hours, to let go of all of your distractions and be present with your child or your loved one."

Rachel says when you do this, the impact is immediate. And, she has a couple ideas we can use to get started.

• First, pick one weekend day to take a break from technology to be with our loved ones. Rachel says we should go somewhere together, and leave our phones at home.
• She also suggests we stop talking on the phone when our kids are in the car. Instead, she says we can talk to our kids.
• Rachel says we can use "wait time" to connect with our loved ones. For example, if you're waiting for a table at a restaurant or waiting to see a doctor, put down the phones and talk to each other.
• And, finally, Rachel tells us to create one daily ritual where time with a loved one is sacred and totally distraction-free. That could be anything from tucking our kids in at night to eating dinner together, whatever works for you and your family.

Lots of ideas to connect with our families. For more and to learn more about Rachel, click here.