Birthday Reflections & New Beginnings: AI Tools That Help Parents Slow Down Time

Happy Monday!

I turn 37 tomorrow. Not a milestone year by any standard definition, but it's got me in a reflective mood about time—how fast it moves, what I've done with it, and what I want to do with the next chapter.

My youngest daughter turns 3 in another 4 months. My oldest is 7 going on 17. And every parent reading this knows exactly what I mean when I say: wasn't she just learning to walk yesterday?

Time with kids is weird that way. The days crawl but the years sprint.

Which brings me to what's been taking up brain space lately: How do we actually spend more quality time with our kids while still managing everything else life throws at us? That's what this newsletter is really about at its core—finding ways to shift from mindless screen time to meaningful family time.

And honestly? Sometimes tech is part of the solution, not just the problem.

TRENDING IN THE DIGITAL PARENTING WORLD:

1. Parents using AI as a deliberate parenting tool (not a replacement) Last week, AI professional and father of five Adam Lyons shared his fascinating approach to using AI with his children. "AI is inevitable. I like to tell people, 'You're not going to lose your job to AI.' But you will lose it to a person using AI," he explains. Lyons considers AI a valuable skill his children need to learn—from helping with homeschooling to guiding them through household repairs. [Source: businessinsider.com/shielding-my-kids-from-ai-would-be-a-mistake-2025-7]

2. Neurodiversity acceptance showing beautiful results in young children A viral TikTok video captured a 4-year-old girl's pure joy watching her neurodivergent classmate receive his diploma at their pre-K graduation. The heartwarming moment reminded the girl's mother that she's raising a compassionate child. According to the nonprofit Understood, about 1 in 5 children in the US are estimated to be neurodivergent. The boy's mother urged parents: "Have the 'hard' conversations early with their kids about neurodivergent children and all the wonderful things they bring to the table." [Source: newsweek.com/little-girl-celebrates-neurodiverse-friend-graduation-2097765]

3. Smart parenting tools becoming more accessible and practical AI chatbots and digital counselors are increasingly being used as support tools between therapy sessions for families. These digital aids offer real-time guidance, coaching, and accessibility, helping bridge gaps in mental health care while preserving privacy. This practical application shows how technology can strengthen family bonds rather than weaken them. [Source: warrenschuitema.com/post/ai-chatbots-and-digital-counselors-the-new-tools-supporting-families-between-therapy-sessions]

THIS WEEK'S POWER MOVE:

Set a "Birthday Goals" tradition with your kids

With my birthday tomorrow, I'm doing something that's become a family tradition: setting three concrete goals for my next trip around the sun. My 7-year-old loves helping me choose these goals and holds me accountable.

We've turned it into a whole birthday ritual—I write them down, she decorates the paper, and we put it on the fridge. Last year's goals included learning to make sourdough bread (not at all successful), reading 24 books (made it with some extras), and having one-on-one "adventure days" with each of my daughters monthly (nailed that one).

For my 37th year, I'm leaning toward: learning a new language alongside my oldest, finishing my basement, and taking a full digital detox day each month.

Try this with your own kids—ages 5+ especially love helping parents set goals. You'd be amazed how focusing on just three specific things can create meaningful change over a year. And kids absolutely love being part of your growth journey.

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Let’s make this the year everything changes. See you in Orlando!

Got questions? Just hit reply and ask. I’m happy to share more!

RECENT BLOG POSTS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:

1. Quiet Hustle, Loud Kids: How Parents Can Start a Home Business With AI and Noisy Little Bosses Feeling stuck between parenting chaos and entrepreneurial dreams? This post shows how to embrace the noise and use AI tools to build a business that works around your kids, not despite them.

2. AI Chatbots and Digital Counselors: The New Tools Supporting Families Between Therapy Sessions Discover how digital counselors provide support for families navigating mental health challenges, offering real-time guidance when traditional therapy isn't available.

3. AI Comes Home: What Parents Need to Know About Smart Toys, Google Gemini for Kids, and the Summer of Deepfakes A practical guide to navigating the latest AI developments affecting families, from new kid-friendly AI tools to protecting your family from deepfake scams.

BONUS: BIRTHDAY REFLECTION ACTIVITY FOR FAMILIES

Want to try something different with your kids this week? Create a simple time capsule. Have each family member write down or draw:

• One thing they're proud of from the past year

• One thing they want to learn in the coming year

• One prediction for what will change by next summer

Seal it up until next July. My girls and I did this last year, and opening it recently was magical—my oldest predicted she'd "read chapter books all by myself" (she did!) and my youngest's scribble somehow looks exactly like our new kitten Anna that we hadn't even adopted yet. Call it toddler intuition!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What are your family summer traditions? Are you finding ways to balance screen time and family time? I'd love to hear what works for your family. Join our "AI-Powered Super Parents" Facebook group and share your stories.

Until next week! Warren S.

P.S. If you try the birthday goals tradition with your kids, snap a pic and tag me. I bet your kids will come up with way better goals than mine did. My 7-year-old suggested I try to "pet 100 different dogs this year." You know what? I might just add that as goal #4.