Disconnection Challenge

But right next to them, five children watched with a knowing look, caught between tenderness and playful mischief.

Lena, Tom, Eloise, Maxime, and Chloe, all around ten years old, sat in a circle on the floor, enjoying the unattended buffet. Lena couldn't help but chuckle as she watched her mother bounce around as if she were twenty again, while Tom worried that his father might sprain an ankle with his awkward steps. For them, seeing their parents like this was both touching and funny.

“They think they’re young, but it’s clear they can’t keep up!” Lena thought as she grabbed a sausage roll, a mischievous smile on her lips.

As they ate, the children couldn't help but humorously comment on the family spectacle. Maxime, however, was more focused on his plate of spaghetti bolognese, finding the culinary experience far more interesting. Chloe, on the other hand, wrinkled her nose at the sangria the adults were drinking. “Yuck, that red stuff is disgusting!” she exclaimed, while her friends, more curious, appreciated the fruity aroma of that mysterious and slightly forbidden blend.

The music increased in volume, to the point that Tom, visibly exasperated, jumped up: “Come on, let’s go to my room; I can’t take this racket anymore!”

The little group nodded in agreement and, laughing, discreetly left the room to take refuge in Tom's bedroom. Once settled on plush cushions, snacks within reach, they prepared to play their favorite game, **Super King**. But the enthusiasm wasn’t quite there. Their minds were still on the hilarious scene they had just witnessed.

Lena, thoughtful, suddenly spoke up: “You know what? My parents are always telling me that I’m glued to my phone. They say I’m too dependent… And now, seeing them tonight, totally into their party, laughing and dancing like crazy. Isn’t it strange?”

Chloe, cheeky, replied: “That’s true! It’s a bit like the chicken and the egg. Who started it? The phone or the Wi-Fi? We were born into this, but they’ve caught on too, and sometimes I think they’re even worse than us!”

Tom nodded seriously: “Totally! They spend their time telling us we’re always glued to our screens, but Monday morning, they’ll be the first ones back to their emails and work calls… honestly, who’s more dependent on their phones, them or us?”

Eloise, still skeptical, pouted. “My parents say all the time that phones soften the brain… But they can’t do without them either! My dad has apps for everything, even to find his socks!” she said, bursting into laughter.

Maxime, who had been silent until then, proposed: “What if we tried to prove we can live without our phones? A real challenge, no Wi-Fi, just for one evening. We’ll see how long we can last.”

Silence fell over the group. The idea seemed crazy… but after a few seconds, smiles began to appear. Lena nodded: “Okay. Let’s do it. We’ll put all our phones in a box and see who lasts the longest.”

Maxime grabbed a small box and dropped his phone in it. The others followed, a bit hesitant. Soon, the silence in the room became heavy. But it didn’t take long for improvisation to take over. Before long, they started playing forgotten games, inventing stories, and even debating topics they had never discussed before, like politics or imaginary travels.

Hours passed without them realizing it. To their great surprise, they were having much more fun than they had expected. It was a genuine success. But soon, the sounds of chairs scraping and the voices of the parents were heard. It was time to say goodbye.

The next day, the children, still proud of their achievement, congratulated each other over the phone. Maxime, always full of ideas, proposed a new challenge for the following weekend: “What if we challenged our parents to do the same? 24 hours without their phones, too!”

The idea was unanimous. And the following weekend, it was the parents who were put to the test. Chuckling softly, they placed their phones in the box, confident they could last.

The first day went smoothly. The children enjoyed their free time to explore, play, and observe their parents, who, despite their smiles, seemed to struggle to stay off their phones. The lack of calls, social media, and emails became increasingly evident.

At the end of the 24 hours, the children gathered around the parents' box, eager to check if the adults had truly held out. Tom, with a sly smile, declared: “So, did you succeed?”

The slightly flushed faces and sheepish smiles gave them away. “Well, okay, we cracked… a little bit…” a parent admitted, laughing.

“Aha, see!” Lena exclaimed. “You always criticize us, but in the end, it’s you who couldn’t last.”

Everyone burst into laughter, parents and children alike. This challenge showed that, despite the criticism, everyone had their habits with technology. But more importantly, they had shared an exceptional moment together, without screens, simply enjoying each other’s company.

Before parting, Maxime, looking thoughtful, turned to the others: “Do you think we could last longer? Like… a whole week?” Silence followed his question. The children's faces lit up one by one, torn between excitement and apprehension. Lena, always the first to dive in, smiled slyly: “A week without phones? Are you ready to take on that challenge?”

Chloe shrugged, already on board: “Why not… But will the parents last this time?”

Tom fixed his gaze on the wooden box, his eyes shining with a mix of challenge and amusement. “We won’t know until we try.”

The challenge was on. A whole week without technology… But were they really ready to discover what that would entail?

With smiles on their faces and light hearts, everyone went home, eager to prepare for this very special week. But deep down, a sense of uncertainty lingered.

Véro Infini