If you’re a parent or someone who cares for a child, and this title caught your eye, you’re probably laughing at yourself. “If only it were as easy as reading an article,” you might be thinking. The truth is that parenting is hard. It’s not an easy journey. But as you progress on this journey, there are things - big and small - that you can do to make the path easier to traverse.
In this article, we’ll share a few of those small things. Every family is different, but take from this list what serves you and see how your family responses to these little changes, shifts and new approaches.
1. Create Space for Quality Time
It’s not about how expensive the family vacation is, or about how complex the day of adventures is that you planned. It’s all about the memories and feelings cultivated by the time you spend with your child. No matter what activities you’ve planned, focus on the following:
Quality family time should be relaxed. No one will have fun if you’re stressed about the daily itinerary in order to have a “perfect” day!
Quality family time should be free of conflicts.
Quality family time should include meaningful conversations. Connect on a heart-to-heart level with your child!
2. Be Fully Present
Your child can tell when you’re only listening half-heartedly to their story, or when your eyes are on your phone while they show off a new skill they picked up at school.
Your children need you to be fully present. Practicing presence ensures your full focus and investment into the time together as a family.
So the next time you’re spending time with your child, be fully there sans the TV or smartphone or list of to-do items running through your head.
3. Always Eat Together
Researchers have noted that eating a meal together as a family brings everyone closer and imparts many health and wellness benefits to parents and children alike. Make a mealtime tradition, but a tradition that evolves as your children get older.
For example, when your kids are school age, you might make a pact to eat dinner together as a family every weeknight. As your children become teenagers with their own responsibilities and activities, you might make a commitment to eat together every Wednesday (or whatever day works for your family).
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