Make a Connection with Your Children This Summer
Make a Connection with Your Children This Summer
Summer is coming and you’re making all the arrangements for summer camps and where your children will spend the majority of their time while you work. This is the time to fit THEM into YOUR schedule.
Let’s face it, we find time to have our nails and eyebrows done. We find time for grocery shopping, meeting with our accountants, and paying our bills. We even schedule meetings with people when it comes to work. So why not schedule your kids this summer?
It’s hot dog, watermelon, pool, and beach time! It’s warm out and time to wear shorts, bathing suits, and lounge in the sun with some lemonade. Before you know it, you’ll be walking through the stores gathering items for back to school. Don’t let this special time get away from you.
Right now, at this moment, open up your calendar, and pencil in time for you and your child. If more than one, pencil them in with their own day. Pick a time after work or on the weekend to spend a few hours with only them. Be sure to create this time with them when there will not be any outside invasions such as work texts or calls. Coincide your special times with a friend and trade off babysitting with them while you both connect with your kids. For example, in two weeks, you may have a hair cut appointment on a Monday and a nail appointment on a Thursday. Somewhere in between, or on that weekend, create a time of at least a few hours to connect with them.
Now that you created the time, you may be unsure as to what to do. Think simply; attend a movie together and have a burger after to discuss what you each liked. Buy some sandwiches and eat lunch or dinner at a beautiful park or lake. Go to a book store, find out their interests, and purchase a book they would like to read. Purchase some fun drinks at a coffee place and read the book together.
Some other possibilities may be to think about what they enjoy doing. Maybe they like surfing, crocheting, or video games. Find their interests and create a simple time to get to know the subject with them. Whatever their interest, create time where you will be one on one. Even if their enjoyment is on a device, make the time spent off the device as well.
For instance, if your child loves a certain video game, find a museum or outside connection with the video creation as well as learn to play the game with their help. If they love surfing, locate a surf museum or documentary about it and actually go to the beach and watch them get on their board. Is it crotchet that they like? Find a class you both can attend and find a museum that features some finished products. Take pictures, talk afterwards about what you learned or what was unique about their interest.
Maybe just pick a time and go to lunch or dinner at a restaurant just the two of you. Have an actual fun one-on-one discussion about their best friend and what they like to do when they don’t have to do homework. Ask questions about their friends and why they like them. Tell them stories about what you and your friends did when you were their age. Most importantly treasure this special time.
As I raised my children, many people told me over and over to enjoy my time with my girls. I would always hear how quickly time flies. Well, I’m here to tell you it goes by like the snap of your finger. Before you know it, they’re out of high school, selecting a college and packing to leave. No kidding; it happens so fast it makes your head and heart spin.
As you think about how fast the time goes, create some time with your children. Take the time right now and book some fun times with your kids. You will not regret it. Be sure to take some fun selfies so you have something to look back on. Take a deep breath in, take a deep breath out, and enjoy every special moment with them.
