14 Jul Reflection From a Waterpark

I took my family to Wilderness at the Smokies this past weekend in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Sounds very “campy” doesn’t it? Just the Wilderness part sounds like an adventure, and who doesn’t like the Smoky Mountains?

Well, those of you that know me, know that I don’t camp. Pull my man card all you want (I live with three girls, I haven’t seen a man card in years), but I am not one to “rough it”.

This place is a hotel complex that boasts three water parks. Two of which are outside, and one inside. Its basically a place to throw money around in the name of family entertainment. And, the Harveys hit it hard like the rock stars that we are!

One of the best things about this trip was the fact that all of us locked our phones in a locker each day we were there. I actually made eye contact with every member of my family, and didn’t feel the need to document every minute of our adventure! We were present. We lived it, and we had a great time!

Sadly, though, not everyone at the park went technology free. For those of you who weren’t aware, there is a product that will seal your phone in a waterproof pouch that then hangs around your neck/shoulder like a 5-year-old’s toy purse. This handy, although fashionably questionable, accessory means you get to keep your phone with you all day! That’s right, you don’t have to talk to real live people, or watch your kids have the time of their life (that’s what the lifeguards are for, right?).

Now, to be fair, it’s very possible that the people with these handy, waterproof satchels were WAY more important that I am. They may have to take a phone call at a moments notice, and dash away to do open heart surgery on the President. I’m not judging.

I, however, am thankful I’m not that important. Because if I was, I may have missed:

• Talking to my family while we waited in line for the various slides
• Catching every squeal, scream, and laugh as it happened
• Watching my daughters make plans for the next slide while we waited in the line we were in
• Catching my daughters holding hands as they walked from place to place because they didn’t have their phones
• Catching my wife’s eyes and communicating whole thoughts without saying a word

Yeah, we had a great time!

I’d love to show you some photos, but they’re all in my head because, thank God, I’m not important enough to need my phone with me 24-7! Sometimes, it takes a trip like this to remind me of that!

Have you had any “tech free time” with your family lately? What did you do? What did you discover? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!