Raising Kids in a World Where Tech Never Stops

A nostalgic embrace: A vintage phone and a modern smartphone hold hands, bridging past and present with a smile.

I work in tech. I live in tech. And most days, I carry tech in every pocket, tab, and calendar block of my life. I manage teams across time zones, support infrastructure that never sleeps, and am expected to be responsive, available, and adaptive almost 24/7.

And in the middle of all that?

I'm raising kids.

A daughter who is 3. A son who is 9. And I have a wife who deserves just as much of my presence and energy as any job or project ever will.

In a world where notifications never end, where screen time isn’t just a concern — it’s a language, a currency, and sometimes a crutch.

This post isn't about screen time rules or parental controls. It's about trying to parent well in a high-demand digital world. It's about the balance I don’t always get right. And what I’m learning as I go.

In a previous post, I wrote about why I stopped chasing "balance" — because balance can become another unrealistic ideal. Instead, I focus on presence. Being fully where I am when I’m there. That’s the goal in work and in parenting.

I’m the Tech Guy — And Still, It’s Hard

You'd think that working in IT and managing complex systems would make home tech feel easy.

It doesn't.

If anything, it's harder.

Because I know how addictive these platforms in tech are to the kids I'm raising. I know the algorithms. I know how fast content can flood attention spans and how slow real connection can feel in comparison.

And yet, I also know that tech is how my kids talk to their friends. How they build, explore, learn, and create. It's not just a screen. It's a playground, a school, a canvas, a voice.

So the question becomes: how do I guide them without fear? How do I teach them to use it, not just consume it?

Presence Is Harder Than Ever

My phone lights up during dinner. An alert. A Slack ping. A production issue. Maybe it's small. Maybe it isn't.

But the message it sends to my wife and kids when I pick up the phone? That tech comes first. That the world outside our home matters more.

So I work on it. Not perfectly. But intentionally.

I mute notifications. I set app limits. I schedule time off. I take walks with my son and leave the phone at home. I get down on the floor and play with my daughter without checking email in the background. I try to model digital discipline, even when it’s inconvenient.

Because attention is currency. And I want them to know they’re worth more than any dashboard.

A family staring at a computer screen.

Tech Isn’t the Enemy When Raising Kids — Disconnection Is

I don't want my kids to fear tech. I want them to build with it, question it, understand it. I want them to be creators, not just users.

But I also want them to know when to walk away.

That real relationships live in eye contact, not just DMs. That patience isn't a loading bar. That not everything has to be captured or posted.

We're raising digital natives. But being native doesn't mean being dependent.

It means navigating tech with agency. With boundaries. With awareness.

And that starts with how we model it as parents.

What I’m Learning (And Still Failing At)

• Quiet is valuable. Not every moment needs entertainment. Boredom breeds imagination. Stillness creates room for thought.

• Boundaries matter more than rules. Rules are easy to enforce. Boundaries require conversation, trust, and accountability.

• Explaining > Controlling. When I explain why something is off limits or how data privacy works, my kids engage. When I just say no, they find workarounds.

• Time with them is time without distraction. Even 15 distraction-free minutes can matter more than an hour of half-present parenting.

• Tech can be a tool for connection — or a wall. It depends on how we use it.

  
  

A Few Things I Do That Help (Most Days)

• No phone at the dinner table. Ever.

• Screen time is earned, not assumed.

• If they want to use a new app or game, we try it together first.

• Family tech nights: we play co-op games, try new gadgets, build small projects.

• I share what I do at work — the good and the bad. They see how tech supports and stresses me.

• I prioritize uninterrupted time with my wife. She sees me juggle a lot, and I want her to feel like a priority, too.

  
  

The World Isn’t Slowing Down — So I’m Showing Up

I can’t unplug the world. But I can teach my kids how to live in it without losing themselves.

I can show them how to work hard and rest well. How to engage with tech and step away from it. How to build something meaningful without needing likes.

And honestly?

I'm still learning how to do all of that myself.

So this isn’t a guide. It’s a reflection. A reminder that in a world where tech never stops, parenting has never mattered more.

Not because we have to fight the future. But because we have the chance to shape it.