The other day, I had a bit of a meltdown. Well, it was quite a big meltdown. I was rebelling against the amount of time my son had to spend in front of a computer doing online schoolwork coupled with the amount of time he spent playing computer games. I fear the effects of technology overload on the human soul, especially for children, but as no other adults in my family supported my view, I felt powerless to change what I believed was an unhealthy situation. I ended up shouting, slamming a few doors, and storming out of my parents’ house.

As I fumed on my dog walk, a bus rounded the bend with this slogan on its side: The Power to Change. The universe was speaking to me, of course, and in that moment, I realized I was not powerless and that I could change things. I might not be able to stop the exponential rise in technology and subsequent enslavement of people by their devices, but I could take greater responsibility for what went on around me. My family and I are now pulling together to create a healthier, more balanced life for my son until he returns to school when lockdown ends.