I despised it. There are so many things to do and soooo little time. I work for someone else part-time. I own my own business. I volunteer. I also have a home to run. My plate is FULL.
The LAST thing I wanted to do was sit in the floor and play with dolls. First of all, I don’t wanna crawl in the floor just to play a game I’m not interested in playing. Secondly, I need to be writing this blog post or cooking dinner, or doing laundry, or the never-ending dishes. Thirdly, every time I play with them, they don’t like how I am using MY imagination and then I get bossed around. BLEGH.
Then one day it hit me in my feels. They’re only little for a few more “minutes”. One day they’re going to storm past me and slam bedroom doors as moody teenagers, refusing to talk to me about anything going on in their lives. As I contemplated these things, I realized: it doesn’t have to be that way. I see my children ALL the time. We are WITH each other, as a homeschool family, all the time, but I was not being present. I would go to my room to work on my computer/my own business. I was the moody teenager! “I need to be left alone so I can work!” “No, Mommy can’t play because she has to work.” “No, Mommy doesn’t want to play.” When I wasn’t yelling at them, I was shutting THEM out. I felt so convicted, shameful and downright awful. I decided right then and there I was going to do things differently from here on out.
I started being super silly and fun again. I do sometimes play dolls with my daughter, but generally she’s pretty agreeable to ANYthing she gets to do with mom. I’m yelling less. The kids are fighting less. We all conversate better. It’s almost like, we are a peaceful, “normal” family now. Say what!?
Putting in a little bit of specific, 1:1 time with them NOW, just puts an awesome foundation in place for your relationship with your children for the rest of your life. You are making them feel as special as they are. They are feeling your love and your CHOICE to lovingly CHOOSE your child. That’s so awesome, Mama!
If you related to any of this at all, and know it’s being put on your heart to be more present with your kids but you don’t know where to start, grab my free 5 Ways to be Present with your Kids guide right here!.