Why We Launched Weekends: Bringing Families Back Together

It started with a moment that felt all too ordinary.

It was a Saturday morning, and I was on my phone, trying to find something, anything, we could do as a family that day. My wife was sat next to me, focused on something else on her screen. Our three year old wandered over, asking to watch something on the iPad.

That's when it hit me. We were all in the same room but completely disconnected. Each of us absorbed in our own devices, not because we chose to be, but because it had become a habit. It was a quiet wake up call. One that made me reflect on how easily technology, which was supposed to bring us together, can slowly pull us apart.

That moment planted the seed for Weekends. If technology played a role in the problem, maybe it could also be part of the solution. I knew we needed something to help families be more present with one another. Not just connected online, but truly together in real life.

The Smartphone Paradox

Don't get me wrong. Technology has brought incredible benefits. We can stay in touch with relatives who live far away, access information instantly, and yes, even find things to do as a family. But somewhere along the way, the tool became the master.

The statistics tell a powerful story. According to Common Sense Media, U.S. teens now spend over seven hours a day on screens for entertainment, not including schoolwork. A 2024 Pew Research Center study showed that nearly half of parents admit they spend too much time on their phones and recognize that it affects how they connect with their children. A 2025 survey shared in The Guardian reported that only one in three British families eat together daily, and over half of children use devices during meals. Nearly 40 percent of kids have even asked their parents to put down their phones at the table.

We're living under the same roofs but often in completely different digital worlds.

"We realized that technology should serve our relationships, not replace them. The goal isn't how to eliminate screens entirely, but how to use them intentionally in ways that create real world connection."

The Weekend Planning Struggle

As a working parent, I know how difficult it is to plan a weekend that feels meaningful. Friday evening arrives, and suddenly you're faced with the pressure to make the weekend "special." You open your phone and start the endless scroll: Google searches, social media recommendations, review sites, event listings. An hour later, you're overwhelmed by choices and no closer to a decision.

It's ironic. We have access to more information than ever, yet something as simple as planning a fun afternoon with the kids has become a chore. Instead of excitement, it brings stress.

Technology for Good

This is why we built Weekends. We believe technology should be a bridge to shared experiences, not a barrier. What if, instead of endless searching, your phone could suggest activities that actually match your family's interests?

What if planning took three minutes, not three hours? What if the app adjusted when the weather changed? What if each activity you tried made the next recommendation even better?

Our Mission

Weekends exists to help families reclaim their time together. We're not against technology. We believe in using it with purpose. Our goal is to be the service that helps you put your phone down and step into the world with the people who matter most.

Every decision we make, every feature, every design choice, every partnership we form is driven by one guiding question:

Does this help families spend more quality time together?

The Ripple Effect

When families make time for each other, something special happens. Kids build stronger bonds with their parents. Parents rediscover the wonder of the world through their children's eyes. Siblings share moments that shape their memories and relationships for years to come.

But it doesn't stop there. Communities grow stronger when families are engaged. Local businesses benefit when families get out and explore. And children raised with strong family ties grow up to build more connected, caring communities.

Join the Movement

Weekends is more than just an app. It's a movement towards intentional time. Every family that chooses an adventure over another hour of scrolling, every parent who builds a blanket fort instead of checking notifications, every child who discovers something new through a shared experience is part of this movement.

We're not here to tell families to give up technology. We're here to make it serve a higher purpose: bringing families together in the real world, creating memories that last long after the phones are put away.