It is easy to get caught up in day to day life and forget to attend to small but important stuff. I spend all my time with my children. We are playing, reading or doing some kind of craft. (By the way, I have great ideas for toddler valentine cards, I just have to gather all the pictures and post it. Soon I hope!!) If I’m doing house chores or work they are either playing together or help me and I’m watching and guiding them in their play.
The thing is that I don’t get to spend time with each of them separately. In the mornings when one goes to preschool and I’m with the other, I’m left with very limited time to get ready for lunch, set up everything for when they are together and I’m more in need, that I don’t get to spend maybe as much time as needed with the one at home. Unfortunately, my husband gets home late from work, there is no time there to spare, and weekends are family time.
Yesterday, dad left home early and I had to tag along my son to drop off my daughter at preschool. As I knew this would be our schedule for the day, I asked him the night before what he wants to do on our special time. Of course, he wanted to go and get a toy and then go to the coffee shop with me and have hot chocolate. (We did the coffee shop thing the first day my daughter went to preschool.)
The weather was so nice yesterday that to me it was a sin to go inside and do something. So instead of going straight to mall, I asked him if he wanted to play at the playground. It was quite early for playground and we had the whole playground to ourselves. He asked me if I would race him to the playground and then it started. We spend an hour of jumping around, running and doing all sort of physical activity, I tell ya I had my work out for the day. He was a great mood and satisfied, he couldn’t stop smiling. Then we head to the store for me to do my errands, of course he insisted on buying a toy, but at the end, he came around nicely to wait for his birthday. I guess having fun time with me in the playground did the magic. After that as his request, we went to starbucks and he had his hot chocolate and brownie.
We spend the rest of the day together, doing all sort of things from soccer practice to gardening and some quite time.
I don’t know if it was because of the weather, or the amount of physical activity he had, or the special time he spent with me, yesterday he was at his best. He listened to me, acted more reasonable, and best of all didn’t bug his sister. I didn’t have to discipline him once the whole day. At bed time he shared his thoughts and worries and his feeling for his sister with me, which was great now I know what really goes on in that little head of his. Oh and he told me I’m a supper mom because I do a lot for them 
This was the best thing I could hear from my son. It made me proud of him and made me to understand how much he needs mommy and me time.
I’m proud to say I’m a convert mom, from now on mornings are about mommy and me time.
Until later,
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I agree with you. Spending time with your kids and ‘being there’ for them as they face life’s challenges can help to build strong relationships. Most of us are so rushed for time that we don’t have time to communicate with our kids. Then we tend to feel guilty and try to compensate by showering them with goodies. This may not have the desired effect. Our kids need good parenting, which doesn’t only involve giving them whatever they want. At times, kids need to be told that they are doing something wrong or can’t have something they want. If we spend quality time with our kids and are good parents, they will love and respect us for it.
Thank you for your input. The worst thing that can happen to a kid is for parents to just give him what he wants without spending quality time with them.