Rosie's blog: I relied on my mobile phone . . . and lost!

Family holidays are fun and as I delve into September with renewed vigour, the previous month’s contrasts are still fresh in my mind. A lot of lone parents (like me) usually have to pack children off to their ex's for one or two weeks - scheduling of which is an annual Spring event, like March hares boxing.  The children’s departure with their father comes too quickly, but work has been manic so I miss them, but there is no time for yearning. This year, my ex-husband selected to book his arrival time back from holiday on the day before I depart on my long-booked (and awaited) week away with the boys. We are leaving at 3am for our flight, and at 8 pm the night before they are still not home! No amount of gnashing of teeth makes these situations easy but to have the two key components of my family not there was an exercise in tolerance. But we made it to the airport on time and in good humour.

The weather in the Med was blissful and my boys are in heaven to be jumping in and out of a swimming pool or the sea all day long and playing on boats. But on our second day my purse was swiped from our restaurant table. In it was the busy person’s lifeline: the iPhone. So, no work calls, no work e-mails, no texts or messages. The week was blissful. It was aggravating to resolve but thanks to a good insurance cover was dealt with promptly as soon as we returned. But it was the children who liked it best. The fact that they noticed that it was nice to have me “there” rather than (perhaps) checking (even occasionally) made me wonder. How much do we need to be on work duty for that one week or fortnight? At least, we can limit ourselves. Perhaps you have already discovered this wisdom already, but being device free was good for us all.

Rosie is a partner in a City law firm with two sons aged 8 and 10. She is a single parent and works at her office in the City and at home.