This summer vacation has been extremely busy! My oldest two children have spent most of their vacation away from home, but this hasn’t been a break for me!
You never stop being a parent. You never stop taking your kids into consideration once you start. My biggest takeaway from not having my older two here right now is to include them more in the things I do whenever possible.
Not when I’m in a great mood or I have a lot of extra time, whenever possible, even if inconvenient, even if slightly stressful. As long as I’m not at a 10 and/or it’s not time for bed or something with a serious time constraint, I want to invite them in. Even if they don’t want to be involved.
Why?
Because there is so much connection and learning from each other that comes from different types of interaction. Also, I want them to understand what I do, not because they might want to, or it’s super interesting, but because it’s life and it helps if they understand how life works.
Finally, I want to invite them in because a shift can improve my perspective or theirs…on whatever. Being together, if intentional about it, can be a powerful way to create memories, standards, a baseline for times they really want to talk with me or need me for something, and quality time is quality time, it’s not about what you do, but the way you approach it.
So include your people in your stuff. Even if you’re just side-by-side absorbing the vibe of each other’s separate activities.
By the way, now that they’ll be back in less than a week, I’m finally getting accustomed to this new way of being and finding the time to get things done, and POOF it will be time to start over again!
This is why I’m doing a big co-planning session soon.
Stay tuned.