Are you feeling busy, busy?? Well, let me start by saying no matter how busy you get, you should never be too busy for those you love – especially your kids. 

Can you remember what you were up to two years ago? Or, let’s even say, five years ago?

Depending on how old you are, the odds are that length of time does not feel like a very long time. Now imagine this, that’s about the entire time your toddler has spent on earth!!

My point here is that even 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes every day you devote to spending quality time with your child might not seem like a lot to you, but to your child, that’s a very long time. Even that seemingly short time makes a world of difference, trust me. Also, little is better than nothing.

Here are three tips I personally use to help me create lifelong memories with my little ones:

• Create a time for this every day. Schedule it on your calendar and protect this time fiercely! I find that excusing myself from other activities when I need to by saying, “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go. I have to attend to my kids now” does the trick. After all, if I don’t attend to my kids, who will? 🤷‍♀️ 

• Have a structure for how you spend this time. You could sing songs together, scroll through old photos and tell them stories about the past, do some crafts together (colouring, cutting paper, baking), do house chores together (for instance, teach them to fold clothes and also different colour combinations that go well together), study Bible lessons or books together, and so on. The possibilities are endless.

• Capture those moments and have fun. Yes, I said it. Take pictures and document these precious times that you will cherish forever. These are the pictures that you would scroll through when the kids are gone to their own homes years from now, and it will put smiles on your face.

Remember, this is your chance to invest quality time with your little ones. Don’t let it slip away! If you fail to do so, your kids might get used to creating their own memories in your absence and might not need you anymore as they grow older. So, take charge today and create those memories – tomorrow, they’ll be in charge.

I’m curious, how do you intentionally spend time with your kids? I’d love to hear about it and maybe even get some new ideas myself! Share your thoughts in the comments below!

PS: I’m starting a newsletter where I share parenting resources (weekly Bible lessons, songs, book recommendations, activities and self-care tips). I will begin posting in April. Click here to join. Share with your friends and loved ones!

Categories: My lifestyle

Tags: Christian, Faith, intentional parenting, Making time for your family, Making time for your kids as busy parents, Motherhood, Parenting, Raising a wholesome family