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I don't have timetranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

One of the common phrases children hear from their parents is "I don't have time". On the one hand, the work, which exceeds the prescribed limits, not only in terms of time, but also of the concern for it, as a result of which the person feels "squeezed out", and on the other hand, the fear of a relationship quality that exceeds the necessary accompanying, which is locked in the parent taking the child to school, tutoring, to other extracurricular activities, to fill his time, to acquire supplies, to be able to have chances to is more cultured in his life.

By Protopresbyter Themistocles Mourtzanos (Doctor of Theology)

But the relationship presupposes dialogue, play, joint actions, immersion of the adult in the nascent darkness of the little one, so that he can help him face them. It requires an orientation of love, which makes the adult face his own fears, insecurities about whether he is a good parent or not and what he should do to make his child happy.

"I don't have time" translates to "I make you not have time too". I'm giving you a cell phone so you can spend the rest of your time so you can…

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Наталья МакароваIt’s true, how often do you tell your child “later, there’s no time,” and then you wonder why he sits on the phone for hours. My eldest son grew up exactly like this as a child - we took him to clubs, but there was no time for a heart-to-heart talk. Now I try to at least drink tea together in the evening and just listen to what he has to say. Thanks for the article, it makes me think.

Vangjel KristoIt's true what the father Θεμιστοκλής says, "I don't have time" becomes "and you don't have it". With my own children at school and after daycare, I often make them play alone to finish housework. Ever since I read it, I try to sit together at least in the evening without cell phones, even for half an hour to talk about how their day was.

Μιχάλης ΚωνσταντίνουSomething that stayed with me from Father Themistocles' text is this "I make you not have time too". I see it in mine too: after my daughter's work and school, instead of sitting down to play or talk, I give her the tablet "to pass the time". Since I read it yesterday, I try to leave work and sit together for at least half an hour without screens.

Степан ПоповFather Themistoklis accurately noted about “σε κάνω να μην έχεις χρόνο κι εσύ.” This happened to us too: we took our son to a fishing and English class, and in the evening, instead of talking, we took the phone in our hands so that it wouldn’t interfere with the car’s repair. Now I try to at least check the fishing rods together after Sunday service and just chat.

Андрій БойкоYes, Father Themistocles accurately noticed: "I don't have time" actually means "and you don't." It was the same with us - we took our daughter to English and music, and in the evening, instead of talking, you just put the phone in so that she wouldn't disturb me while I was fixing the fishing tackle. Now I try to sit quietly together, without gadgets, at least after the evening prayer.

Elizabeth BakerΟ πατέρας Θεμιστοκλής το είπε ωμά και σωστά: «σε κάνω να μην έχεις χρόνο κι εσύ». Θυμήθηκα πέρσι που έφερνα την κόρη μου από το χορό και αντί να καθίσουμε να της πω για τη γιαγιά μου που έπλεκε κάλτσες δίπλα στο τζάκι, της έδωσα το κινητό να ησυχάσω εγώ με τα μαθήματα. Από τότε προσπαθώ να βρω έστω δέκα λεπτά το βράδυ χωρίς οθόνες.

Andrea PriftiTrue, Vangjel, I have often made that mistake too – I let my son play just so I can finish the housework or water the plants in the yard. Ever since I read it, I've been trying to sit down together after dinner without our phones, but sometimes the tiredness of the day keeps us quiet. How do you manage to talk about concrete things, such as school or their friends?

Соломія ПанченкоYes, Andriyu, I definitely noticed. We also used to have our sons go to classes after school, and in the evening, instead of talking, they would turn on the TV or the phone, so that it would be quiet while I baked bread or worked in the garden. Now I try to just sit together after evening prayer, without all that, and ask them how their day really went. And how do you do it with your daughter now, without gadgets?

Михайло ЛитвинYes, Solomia, it is good that you started to just sit together after prayer and really ask. Elena and I also had a period when our daughters only sat with headphones after school, and now we try to talk about their lectures or something funny that happened at least at dinner without using our phones. And how do your sons react to this, when you are so without gadgets?