Time-out cyberspace. Time-in focused time.

Tomorrow we leave for Florida. No cell. No computer. Well, at least not at an arm's length; I'm sure we'll be able to borrow one at some point.

I read an awesome article years ago in a Parent's magazine. In a huge study children with working moms were compared to children whose mothers were stay-at-home moms. The results showed that it didn't matter whether or not the mother worked outside of the home, since it was how families spent time together that affected the outcome of how their kids felt, not how much.

What was even more interesting was the conclusion that we parents don't have to freak out about finding "quality time" consisting of doing a ton of things together. Instead, children fared best if they had "focused" time with their parents; that is when kids and grownups each do their own things in the near vicinity of each other, resting assured that all parties are simply conscious of each other in a harmonious coexistence.

So this vacation, while we will rejoice in being able to spend quality time together, will even be a vitamin injection of focused time together as well...