On Monday night, I was reminded that kids are really easy to please. We, as adults, often make it complicated by showering them with expensive toys, jam-packed schedules filled with extra-curricular activities, drawers full of video games, the latest high-tech gadgets and more; when all they really want is quality time with us.
I was reminded of this fact on Labor Day. We got back home from grocery shopping around 7:30 p.m., so I immediately went into mommy mode to get all the kids fed. The boys finished eating first and headed upstairs to play and get ready for bed. I stayed downstairs to finish feeding baby girl. After a few minutes of playing, Samuel comes downstairs and asks me to come upstairs and sit next to him. “Mama, I want you. Come play with us.”
Being the perfect mother that I am (Not!), I responded with something to the effect of, “Not now, I have to finish feeding your sister. I’ll be up as soon as I’m done.”
Of course, by the time I finished feeding baby girl, I remembered the groceries that were still sitting out. As I was putting everything away, Samuel comes downstairs again. “Mama, can you come up here and watch the movie with us?”
“In just a few minutes, Samuel. I have to put the groceries away. I’ll be up as soon as I’m done.”
What I failed to factor in, however, is that putting away the groceries is never a quick process for me. As I’m putting away all the new items, I like to take that time to also wipe down the fridge and freezer, throw away spoiled food and reorganize the pantry as I go. Needless to say, by the time I finished, it was way past the boys’ bedtime.
Such a simple request–Mama, I want you. Yet, I was so fixated on my to do’s that I nearly missed an opportunity to spend quality time with my kids. (Fortunately, dad was in charge of putting the kids to bed, so they stayed up later than normal.)
In life, there are things that are important, but not urgent; and things that are urgent, but not important.
Putting away dairy products that had been sitting out for awhile may have been urgent, but it’s certainly not the most important thing. Spending time with my kids–that’s what’s really important.
Anyone else get caught up in doing? How do you remind yourself to take time to spend with your family?
Linked with: Faithfully Parenting Fridays
Wow, you just hit home on this post. I find myself missing on so many special times with my kiddies because laundry has to be put away , house has to be cleaned, closets have to be organized…I must put this in practice, pronto!
Thank you for sharing!
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I hear you! It’s so easy to get caught up in doing. I’m constantly checking myself to make sure I’m giving my kids good quality time together.
Guilty here! I’ve been trying to do things to avoid them feeling like I’m not spending time with them: kitchen time for me I let them color or paint. My one year old has a drawer specifically for him! Toys, noodles, etc. My 3 year old likes to sweep floor ;) Laundry time I do either at night when they’re sleeping or in living room with them and put on a movie :) Trick is just to have them be a part of that chore ya gotta do. Vacuum time…monster!! They run from it :) good laughs! And Tuesday night is Family Night!! No matter what!!!!!
Oh man, family night! We used to be really good about having a family game not once a week but haven’t had one in a loooong time. Thanks for the reminder. That’s something we need to bring back.
That’s too cute on what Samuel was asking (for some of your time). I know when Jerron is over, he always want me to play WII games with him. I try to find every excuse why Nana does not does not want to play. Really, I prefer to be a couch potatoe and watch him. I get on his mom all the time about not taking time to sit and possibly let him read to her
From now on, what my grandson wants, he will get!
Definitely spend that time with him! He’ll be a teenager and out the house before you know it.
Oh, friend, can I relate!! My key phrase is “In just a minute.” Before I know it, many minutes have passed and I still haven’t made it to the playroom. That is an area I am specifically working on right now.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh, are you going to Boot Camp?
Stefanie Brown recently posted..Give Me Five: Name 5 Truths Which Erase Last Week’s Lies…
Thanks for stopping by! Yeah, that “minute” goes by pretty fast, doesn’t it?
Yes ma’am, I’ll be at boot camp. I hope to get to chat with you more then.
So for the last two posts you have been talking about me and I really appreciate it:) I definitely needed these words of wisdom. I’m always telling my 2 year old to go play with her toys and she gladly disobeys by staying in the same room I am in. One day she came up to me with arms wide and hugged me and wanted to sit on my lap. How often it doesn’t occur to me that I don’t baby my baby enough.
Oh, good…so it’s not just me! I’m so happy to know others get where I’m coming from. The good thing is we can all learn and grow together. (By the way, your posts have been on point, too.)
You are SO right! This is a tough one for me. I have to constantly ask myself if I’m being Mary or Martha.
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Wow, I really like how you put that–am I being Mary or Martha.