Logging Off, Looking Up: A Lenten Journey Toward Balance

The past few months have been a struggle. If you’re a parent in the digital age, you probably know what I mean. Screens—they’re everywhere. And for my 10-year-old, they’ve slowly crept into more and more of his daily routine. What started as a little extra gaming time here and there became a battle over “just five more minutes.” The lure of endless content, instant entertainment, and the thrill of unlocking achievements—it’s all so hard to resist.

At first, I tackled it the way most parents do—rules, limits, timers. And while those things helped, they didn’t get to the heart of the issue. I noticed that on days when he spent too much time on screens, he was more irritable, more distracted, less interested in books (which he loves), and—most importantly—less engaged in our family time.

It was frustrating. But instead of more restrictions, I chose a different path—one of conversation, prayer, and intentionality.

Meaningful Conversations, Not Just Rules

One evening, we talked. Not about rules, not about screen limits, but about why it’s so hard to log off. I listened as he shared how games are fun, how videos help him learn new things, and how sometimes he just doesn’t want to miss out on what’s happening online. I understood—because, honestly, don’t we all feel that pull?

That conversation opened the door. Instead of me being the “bad guy” taking away his screen time, we started working together to find balance.

Praying Together

As a family, we decided to bring this struggle to prayer. We asked for wisdom to use technology well, self-control to step away when needed, and a heart that seeks God first.

And then Lent arrived.

A Lenten Resolve to Do Better

Lent is about giving up distractions to make room for Jesus. This year, as a family, we resolved to not just “give up” but “offer up.” Less time on screens means more time in prayer, reading, playing, and being truly present.

To help with this, I created a special Way of the Cross booklet—not just for him, but for our whole family. “Logging Off, Looking Up: A Way of the Cross Booklet for Teens” is a reflection on Jesus’ journey to Calvary, connected to the struggles of technology, screen addiction, and finding balance in a digital world.

Each station invites us to think about how we use our time, what we prioritize, and how we can turn our focus back to Jesus. We’re going to pray it together as a family this Lent, and I hope it helps deepen our journey—not just during these 40 days, but beyond.

If you’re a parent facing the same struggle, I invite you to join us. Let’s log off a little more, look up to Jesus, and walk this Lenten journey with Him.

📌 You can purchase and download the printable Way of the Cross booklet here Logging Off, Looking Up: A Way of the Cross Booklet for Teens (and Tweens). Let’s pray, reflect, and seek a better balance—together.

For a digital version, click here.