What Happens When You Put the Phone Down: One Mom’s Analog Month

Little Bellies has teamed up with The Everymom to share this piece by Steph Alleva Cornell, Senior Branded Content Editor – and it’s one that will resonate with pretty much every parent who’s ever reached for their phone mid-moment.

Steph spent 30 days logging off Instagram, swapping digital photo dumps for printed pictures, and starting a family junk journal with her kids. What she found along the way surprised her – and might just inspire you to see the everyday moments a little differently too.

Key Takeaways

• Taking a step back from social media, even briefly, can shift your focus from how life looks to how it actually feels
• Analog hobbies like printing photos or keeping a family journal can invite kids into the process rather than making them subjects of it
• Some of the most treasured moments are the messy, in-between, completely ordinary ones
• You don’t need a digital detox to be more present – just a little more intention around the little moments that make up everyday life

Here’s a snippet from her article:

“I’ve always loved capturing moments. Before kids, my camera roll was full of golden hour dinners, coffee shop corners, and too many “this would look cute on Instagram” photos to count. But somewhere along the way, motherhood turned that creative outlet into something else entirely. What used to feel fun started to feel like pressure. I’d catch myself thinking, “Wait, don’t touch that yet – let me take a picture.” And my kids? They started to notice, too. The second I pulled out my phone, I could almost see them disengage. Like, “Oh no, mom is taking pictures again.”

Read more: I Went ‘Analog’ for a Month, and It Changed How I Mother

FAQs

• What is a family junk journal and how do you start one?

  A family junk journal is an informal scrapbook where you stick in printed photos, drawings, notes, wrappers and stickers – anything that captures your everyday life. All you need is a notebook, some printed photos, and whatever craft supplies you have on hand. The less perfect, the better.

• How can I be more present with my kids without giving up my phone entirely?

  Small shifts help – putting the phone down during snack time, printing a photo each week, or asking your kids to help pick which moments to keep. Intention matters more than perfection.

• What snacks are best for little ones during play and activity time?

  Little ones are at their happiest when they’re exploring – and having the right snack on hand makes those moments even better. Our baby snacks and puff snacks are perfect for early eaters, while toddler snacks are great for bigger kids on the go.