Be all there.
Our kids are dying for us to teach them something. And for us to be intentional. It’s one thing to shut off the phone for an hour and watch them. But to be fully engaged is a life change.
It’s often hard for me to be mentally present, even though the phone is away. My mind is always racing a million miles an hour, and I can be totally into an activity but be completely glossed over. I usually have to talk myself out of the clouds and make myself be focused, intentional, and emotionally present. Our kids can tell when we are spaced out, especially as they get older.
It takes practice to clear our minds of stress, frustration, deadlines… But when we get good at it, the times we spend with our kids will be so much more fulfilling.
You see, children teach us an awful lot about ourselves. If we are spending time with them just to occupy their time, we could be missing out on what our kids are trying to teach us. When we are fully present, we may actually learn a thing or two about this thing called life.