Making Every Minute Count - The Secret to Quality Time

If you are like a lot of parents you have a hard time balancing all of the obligations in your life! We all want our children to come first, and we need to realize that we can always find a way to do this even when it seems that we never have as much time to spend with them as we would like.

There has always been a dispute as to which is better; quality time or quantity time! We need our children to know how important they are to us, but we also have responsibilities to take care of. If you make every minute you have with your children count, an hour can be more meaningful than an entire day.

Find time for that hour, whatever you do! Don't be tempted to multitask - attending to a work matter over the phone when you are supposed to be lunching with your daughter. That doesn't count. They deserve your undivided attention for that hour you promised would be theirs and theirs alone.

If your job takes you away from your child for extended periods of time, try to plan days when they can accompany you, or make arrangements to share a meal. You have to eat, after all! - And you will be doing your best to maintain a solid relationship with your children while still fulfilling your role as a provider.

Remember that while being a driven passionate professional is admirable, your child will be watching how you prioritize. Time off is necessary for everyone, so make a point of emphasizing the need for relaxation as well by planning that occasional afternoon off to spend just enjoying each other going to a pick nick or working in the backyard with your kids.

You don't need to have a cram packed agenda to make time spent together worthwhile - sometimes no plan at all will lead to spontaneity and you can find yourselves together in the middle of an impromptu adventurous conversation. You might find it to be more fun than anything either of you could have planned!

Make sure you set aside time at least once a week for 'family time' - this gives children a specific time to be heard, and reassures them that their thoughts and plans matter. You can use this special time together to catch up on the events of the weeks, share challenges and victories, and make plans for the days ahead.

As your children get older, schedules become hectic, but if you make it a habit to put family first you will continue to grow in closeness to each other as well as becoming independent individuals. What could be better than having your children living happy successful lives as adults and knowing to still set their place for Sunday dinner?

Even if you are a stay at home parent, there still needs to be special time set apart for your child when you can focus your entire attention on them. This is the key to keeping communication open, and being able to keep in touch with your child's life!