Are You Too Busy for Your Kids?
In his recent newsletter "Happy Kids", parenting expert Michael Grose (yes he is an expert with three kids of his own) said:
Australian parents currently rate achieving work-family balance as their greatest parenting challenge. Currently, 71% of Australian parents say they have difficulty finding time to do the things they enjoy with their children.
So what are the key relationship-builders to focus on when you are busy and life is full on?
A number of different studies show children and young people want three types of interactions with their parents:
Family rituals such as reading to children in bed, shared mealtimes and celebrations. Some activities may come and go but rituals by definition are cut in stone.
One-on-one interactions are vital for relationship building. Whether it is playing a game with a child or having a coffee with a teenager make sure you regularly spend some time with each of your children on their own. This goes double for middle children or those having difficulties in their lives.
Down-time so that spontaneous and fun interactions can occur. Family holidays and lazy Sundays provide opportunities to connect on an informal basis with children. This is particularly important for fathers who tend to communicate best when having some shared fun with their son or daughter.
The challenge for busy people is to carve out some time for these important relationship-building opportunities. Those people who can successfully balance the two spheres of work and family use similar skills at home to those they use at work such as prioritising, delegating and planning ahead. Make family activities a priority and plan around them rather than fitting them in at the end of the day or week when you are tired. It also helps if you get support from home and also have some support and recognition at work that you have a family at home that needs your energy and attention. www.parentingideas.com.au
You Can Turn Your Life Around
You certainly can turn your life around by learning to say 'no', learning how to manage your time and then taking action.
That's right. Everyone tells you how busy and how little time they have, yet most people do nothing to learn the skills that will have a dramatic impact on their work and personal lives.
Cats in the Cradle
For those of you old enough to remember, Harry Chapin recorded a song called "Cats in the Cradle". It was about a young boy whose Dad was always busy working. He never seemed to be available when his son wanted to be with him. Over the years this continued until the boy became an adult. By then his Dad had retired and had time on his hands, however his son had now become too busy to see his Dad. He too was working and had kids. The tables had turned. All of a sudden the Dad realised what he had done. He was too busy caught up in his work and missed out on his son growing up.
The Final Word
Bringing up balanced, positive and well-adjusted children is the most satisfying thing you can ever do. Whatever successes you have had in your life, nothing beats the feeling when you look at your child knowing you have made a major contribution to the way they've turned out. (Also the opposite can be true?if you're child has run off the rails, you may have to take a look in the mirror).
If you have kids and you seriously want to have more time with them, then take action today. There are many simple changes you can make that will free up your time. If you're too bogged down and can't see how, then get some help?contact us.
Whatever you do, don't do nothing. Kids grow up very quickly. I know from personal experience.. My eldest child turned 21 last week and next year my son goes off to high school. I am so grateful that I have played a major role in their upbringing and regardless of how busy my schedule has been, I have always made my family the highest priority.
You can have more work/life balance if you really want to. All it takes are a few changes to the way you currently operate your life.
Remember, nothing changes, if nothing changes.
About The Author
Lorraine specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life.
lorraine@office-organiser.com.au
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:08:19 GMT 'Bangkok' Not-So Dangerous - E! Online
E! Online - After a $4 billion-grossing summer, Hollywood slogged through its worst weekend of the year, per studio estimates compiled today by Exhibitor Relations. Fall box office off to slow start Cage's 'Bangkok' tops worst movie weekend since 2001 Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:29:12 GMT FDA to List Drugs Being Investigated - Washington Post
Washington Post - By David Brown The Food and Drug Administration will begin posting every three months a list of drugs whose safety is under investigation because of complaints brought to the agency's attention by drug companies, physicians and patients. The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation 20 Drugs FDA Is Watching Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:19:40 GMT A bit of Federer humor - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - Roger Federer seems to be enjoying himself more at this tournament than any US Open or Wimbledon I can recall (which is about all I can speak for, since I don't cover the year-long tour). Video: Federer Beats Djokovic to Reach US Open Final Roger Federer storms into US Open final Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:11:36 GMT Venezuela flies aid to storm-ravaged Haiti - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuela is sending Haiti 20 tons (18 metric tons) of food and relief supplies as Hurricane Ike drenches the flood-ravaged nation. Video: Haitians Flee Gonaives Before Ike Reaches Island Hurricane Ike hampers relief effort in Haiti Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:41:27 GMT Zardari’s stress on progress - Hindu
Hindu - ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Election Commission on Sunday formally notified Asif Ali Zardari as the winner of the presidential elections, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader is to be sworn into office on Tuesday. Suicide blast kills 35 in Pakistan; Zardari set to take power Pakistan's Zardari prepares for presidency Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:25:18 GMT Paulson Engineers US Takeover of Fannie, Freddie (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Rebecca Christie and Dawn Kopecki Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The US government seized control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after the biggest surge in mortgage defaults in at least three decades threatened to topple the companies making up almost half ... Video: Feds Take Over Mortgage Giants A Tangled Web With Many Raveled Threads Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:08:03 GMT Patriots’ Tom Brady Injured - New York Times
New York Times - By LYNN ZINSER FOXBORO, Mass - If the New England Patriots were still smarting from their improbable Super Bowl loss to the Giants to end last season, their pain got even deeper in their season opener against Kansas City on Sunday afternoon when ... Tom Brady knocked out of game Patriots QB Brady out of opener vs. Chiefs Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:58:10 GMT How to Earn Money At Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey... Read More You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More My name is Duncan and I'm 2 years old. I... Read More Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on... Read More For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More "In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't... Read More Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More "Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health. Exercising... Read More "Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New... Read More When our oldest son was 2, my wife went out... Read More I have always found the notion of toilet training a... Read More Most of us when asked what we want our children... Read More Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More Gift shops are a kid magnet and often a trip... Read More Children and teenagers are relentlessly bombarded with merchandise that entices.... Read More The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
Adsense
websites
True Romance for Couples with Kids: 10 Inexpensive Ideas
So, My Child Has Been Recommended for Testing - What Do I Do Now?
Who Are Your Kids Talking To Online?
Imaginations Soar
Breastfeeding, Its My Right
Who Wants To Date Their Mother?
10 Reasons Why You Need to Ditch the Super Mom Syndrome
The Post-Holiday Blues In Stepfamilies
Single Parenting: How The Challenge Of Single Parenting Affects Your Decision To Divorce
Develop Your Childs Genius: Improving Concentration and Focus
Understanding A Childs Beliefs, Nuturing Young Beliefs
Picky Eaters - The Dawn of Understanding
Parenting: 6 Observations on Fatherhood
Family Meetings Are Now On The Agenda
Growing Good People
Pregnancy and Excercising - 6 Reasons to Excercise During Pregnancy
How Being a Mom Makes You a Better Professional
How Fathers Can Step Up to Fathering
Potty Training ?To Train or Not to Train?
How Can I Teach My Child To Be Responsible?
Awesome Dads Top Ten Ways To Be The Foundation of Your Family
Taking Home Souvenirs, Not Junk
Parents/Teens and Money ? 5 Ideas for Keeping the Peace
How To Be Your Childs Sex Educator
Successful Treatment Planning for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
For School Success, Dont Coddle Your Kids
Parents want their children to succeed in school. However, sometimes... Read More
Why Scrapbooking Moms are the Secret Weapon in the War on Terror
There is a front line and a back end to... Read More
Whos Your Daddy? How to be a Great Dad in 5 to 7 Minutes
I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
Raising Happy Diabetic Kids Part III Help Your Child Develop Self-Control
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
Communication Mistakes Parents Often Make - And Easy Ways To Correct Them
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
Introduction to the Medications Used in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder
There are several treatment options available to help improve the... Read More
Children Cooperate When Appreciated
Do you want your child to cooperate with you more?Children... Read More
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) for Teen Drivers
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
Twin and Multiple Births are on the Rise
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
Adderall and Its Side-Effects
Adderall is a stimulant medication used in the treatment of... Read More
The Hardest Job I Ever Had
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
Should The Dad-To-Be Attend The Birth?
Not so long ago a dad-to-be would pace up and... Read More
Registering a Birth in Scotland
Who Can Register A Birth? The child's mother... Read More
Jammin with Your Kids: The Wonderful World of Music
Does music need to be "dumbed-down" for kids? The answer... Read More
Should We Apologize To Our Children?
An apology is a sign of strength, not weakness. Sometimes... Read More
Parenting Confidence - Who Needs It?
It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More
Twins - Double The Trouble Or Double The Pleasure? Both!
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Parenting---Roots and Wings
I'm sure many of you have heard that old Hallmark... Read More
Why A Father Is Not A Dad
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
How Public Schools Lie to Parents and Betray Our Children
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
Is Your Child Learning Nothing?
You send your child to school and the teachers teach... Read More
Maturing As a Parent
I have three children, ages 19 and 16 (yes, the... Read More
How Many Sex Offenders Live On Your Block?
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives... Read More
You Dont Need a Supernanny to Be an Active Parent
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
Family Meetings 101
Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and... Read More
Parenting |