Being Present in a Busy World

Presence is such a tricky thing, isn’t it? Life rarely slows down, but being present doesn’t mean everything is calm—it means noticing what’s right in front of you.

For me, that reminder came in the most humbling way possible: from my kids. One of them looked at me the other day and said, “Mom, why aren’t you looking at me? You’re looking at your phone.” Ouch. Kids will tell it to you straight, and sometimes it’s exactly what we need to hear.

Kevin and I decided that this school year needed to look different. So we’ve started some simple but powerful new rules in our house:

• We all eat dinner at the table together.
• This is family time to talk about our day.
• It’s screen-free—no phones, no TV, no iPads.
• Everyone who wants to share about their day gets a turn, and no one interrupts.

It sounds small, but it has been so good for us. We’ve even had a few “family meetings”—all screens put away, everyone gathered at the table, working through grievances and ideas together.

Out of those conversations came a new reward system (our “good deeds jar”) and even a “blurt chart” that we borrowed from Leo’s teacher to help keep things consistent at home. These little systems aren’t just about behavior—they’re about being more present. More present in listening. More present in caring about each other’s days now that we’re all in different places during the week. More present in our tone, our patience, and even how we speak to one another.

If you want to try these at home, I’ve linked the Canva files for both the Good Deeds Jar and the Blurt Chart—feel free to grab them and make them your own!

It’s not easy, and we’re far from perfect at this, but I’m grateful we noticed a problem and chose to make changes together. Presence takes practice.

And maybe that’s why I love photography so much. When I’m behind the camera, presence is built in—it’s the art of holding onto a fleeting moment we’ll never get back. A laugh, a glance, a sunset, a season. Photography reminds me that life isn’t lived in the scroll or the rush, but in the little pauses where we actually look up and see each other.

So here’s my gentle nudge for you this week: where could you put one small system in place to help you be more present? Maybe it’s a screen-free meal. Maybe it’s a quiet sunset walk. Maybe it’s simply looking up when your child says your name. Presence doesn’t require perfection—it just asks us to notice.

👉 And if those little systems sound helpful, you can grab our Good Deeds Jar and Blurt Chart Canva files below to make them part of your own family rhythm.

Grab the Good Deeds Jar Canva file here. Download your editable Blurt Chart template on Canva