Our most important: WORK

Children are amazing creatures. They are always trying to make sense of their world by emulating the sights and sounds around them. As parents,we are constantly being observed and watched by little eyes that make sense of their world through us. A typicial evening in our home is usually filled with lots of routines, homework time, bathtime, dinnertime, reading time, and relaxation. In the hustle and bustle of just a few hours in the evening we are trying to get things done from the time we get home, until we usually crash on the couch or in bed reading a book or watching television. How do we make use of the time we have to capture moments of childhood and still get through our routines? Here are a few tips to help parents who balance work and life, and the desire to spend meaningful time with their children. 1. Plan ahead When we plan for our meals, and making lunches ahead of time, we create more time in the evening to spend with our children. If you children are older, task them with making their own lunch, and create meals that can be reheated easily. 2. Forgive yourself often. The ideal time and moment is non-existent. We can spend our time beating ourselves up or we can let it go and accept our today. Forgive yourself often. If you really think about it, we are usually our worse critics and everyone else has already moved on. 3. Take 5 minute pauses. Even as I'm writing this entry, I paused for my youngest son, to give me a hug, climb in my lamp and talk to me about why he needed to sit on my lap even though I'm typing. His words, "I like stories. Me: You do, what kind? Him: Football. He's still sitting on my lap. When I said, well can I get back to typing, he said, Yes, you can use one hand, and type type type, and I can still sit on your lap. Make the time, for these moments because they pass all too quicklly. Good evening, and enjoy your parenting journey!