A Parenting Reminder
8:45 am 
6 Comments
Sunday afternoon is perfect.
When I walk off the stage on Sunday morning it as if the sun goes down on my week. The week is finally over. When I get home laziness overwhelms me and my body longs for a couch and a remote and my eyes begin to shut.
Yesterday my cousin and her husband were visiting us, so my normal routine was a bit off. We were all talking in the kitchen when I peered into our room to see Elianna resting in our bed.
When I opened the door she jumped. This is normal for nap time. Nine out of ten times when she is supposed to be sleeping, she is playing. An open door is a sign that she is busted. But this time, I whisper, “It’s ok, Daddy wants to cuddle with you.” I climb in to the bed, pull her three, almost four-year-old body, next to mine. As she snuggled up next to me her beautiful blue eyes searched until they met mine and she said, “You are the best poppa in the world.”
My heart melted. I pulled her close, kissed the top of her head, and closed my eyes knowing I needed to remember this moment.
Having three kids all under that age of five often feels like a tornado. In the midst of trying to get everyone dressed with their shoes on and in the car, I often forget to get on their level and enjoy them. Yesterday was a reminder for me….
Take time. Get on her level. Do the things that matter to her – even if it means being a princess and holding a doll. She is worth it.
Each of my kids are different. They feel special in different ways. Overtime, I have identified what each kid loves. My two girls love individual time. You can read about that here and here. Now just to take the time and do it.
So what about you? How do you make your kids feel special?
yeah, Brent, you are so right and I am thankful you are seizing the moments with your kids. They’ll be adults before you know it, so always seize the moment and build those treasuries of memories, not only for yourself, but also for your kids. God bless you and your family!
Thanks Will. I am certainly trying to seize all those moments.
What a wonderful story! momet is etched on El’s heart forever.
Bit loves quality time and physical touch. I try to incorporate the two with snuggle/story time, boxtime (make believe time with a box as our only prop), and painting nails. My goal is to everyday read a story, play a game and do a puzzle with Bit.Some days I am better at it than others.
Great Goal! Keep going.
You know that’s funny that just yesterday I just had an overwelming sense that I was missing out on so much of “them”. I rush them through stories and put off things till bedtime and then it’s hurry hurry hurry..gotta go to bed. I posted something about that and recieved many comments. One being that a mother/father to daughter/son journal. I know your kids are still to small but they said that they would each have a journal and the daughter would write about her day and leave it on her mothers nightstand each night. The mother would reply and tell her about her day. It was suggested because as they get older there are some things that kids just hate to share at the dinner table. Little things that seemed so small when put into words seemed to grow into mountians. It’s a really good thought as your babies grow. My babies are 12, 11 and 9 …times flies when your having fun!!!
Great idea Cody. I think you are right, there are somethings they don’t want to talk about at the dinner table.
I can’t believe your kids are already so big.