How much time do you spend with your kids?  No, this isn’t a lecture, it’s not meant to be condemning – it’s more of a “note-to-self”.   Because I struggle with the same balance you do – spending time with my children vs. doing work that needs to be done.  I’m busy, you’re busy – we’re all BUSY.

 

Most of you are probably like me – hours of work to be done and yet I hear those special words “Daddy, will you play with me?”  How do you answer that question? 

Kids desperately want you to enter their little world.  Enter it with no strings attached.  They want you to be their “little friend” for a while.  Do you?  Sure, I know it’s hard to play some of those games.  Sometimes I think I would rather be at the dentist than play “dolls” with my daughter.  However, when you look into the eyes of your children – it’s not really about what you play – it’s about understanding how much it means to them for you to be in their world.  If you don’t enjoy playing “dolls” or “whatever” – enjoy the fulfillment of what you’re giving them.  Remind yourself of the real reason you’re playing dolls.   

Also, give them your full attention.  Turn off the cell phone, television, etc. and move away from the computer.  There was a time when I thought kids wanted cool toys and “stuff” from me (and they still do) – however, I’ve learned that no toy is cooler than Dad hanging out in their world.

So, spend time with your kids.  In fact, spend as much time with them as you can possibly justify.  There will come a time – in the not too distant future – when they’re not interested in spending time with you.  They’ll be too busy texting their friends and doing “teenage stuff”.   By then, it might be too late.