Mike Parker: The joy of spending time with family
As 2025 ended and 2026 was being born, I had the opportunity to spend a week with my children and grandchildren at North Myrtle Beach, SC. Each year, we try to travel somewhere together to put aside our jobs and daily demands and focus on family. This year, all my children and all but one of my grandchildren made the trip.
I have four – and maybe five – adult grandchildren: Courtney, the nurse; Haley, a recent grad with and M.A. in anthropology, Taylor, a pharmacy tech; Jaxen, an Industrial Technology student at East Carolina; and Isaiah, an Automotive Technology student at Craven Community College.
Six of my grandchildren are middle school or high school teens. Laney and Allie are set to begin their last semester in middle school. Abby, Ben, and Hannah are students at D.H. Conley High School, and Alex is in the Early College at Craven Community College.
Last, but not least, is Luke, 11 going on 12, who is in the sixth grade in Clayton. Luke and I went to a special Papa and Luke breakfast at Waffle House, where we shared the All-Star Special. Luke ate the waffle and bacon, and I ate the scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and raisin toast. We ordered a take-out plate for Grandma, who was still asleep when we went to breakfast.
Each family group tries to take the kids and teens to places they know they will enjoy. Each family also takes responsibility for preparing a meal for everyone – sort of a moving buffet.
But the most important part of the trip for me is the opportunity to spend time with my children and grandchildren. All of us live at such a frantic pace that finding time to be together is never easy. Ben plays football, Allie plays volleyball, and Laney is in chorus and recently sang in the All-State choral group for middle schoolers. Alex and Isaiah both have part-time jobs.
We relish the slower pace this trip offers that allows us to catch up and spend time together.
Too many have lost the notion that the family is the basic unit of society. The most fortunate kids grow up in families that foster close ties and have parents who model proper values and behaviors.
If I could change anything, I think I would put a ban on using mobile phones when we are together. Nothing drives me crazier than being with grandchildren who are constantly on their phones. Little else builds isolationism and lack of social skills like cell phones.
Since most of my grandchildren know how I feel, they modify their behavior to accommodate my wishes. I never impose a “no cell phones” ordinance, but they also know that I want to spend time with them – not watch them glued to their phones.
I am also blessed that our family does not interpersonal drama among themselves. My son and daughters love each other dearly. We do not suffer from the internal warfare that seems too common within so many families. We practice kindness, compassion, love, and closeness.
In the next day or two, we will be back in our separate rat races. At this point, the cell phone is not an enemy because the devices allow us to have daily – and sometimes hourly – communication. We try to remain close to one another despite the constant demands of daily living.
As this new year begins, I urge each of you to strengthen the bonds within your family. And never forget: the only person you can do much about is yourself. Be the best son or daughter, the best brother or sister, and best parent you can be.
May family a top priority for this new year.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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