Do something for the kids this week that they want to do

I remember fondly the times when
I was young that my parents had all
attention on me.

Being there is one thing, but being present is a wholly different thing. For
those with young kids do you ever find yourself blindly swatting the kids away
as if they were a pest simply for wanting to play with you or show you how
they’ve drawn something they want your approval on?

But why the swatting away? Well, my social media feeds won’t check
themselves! That email refresh needs doing just one more time!

I find it horrible that this is a habit picked up by so many (myself included).
Imagine what this is showing to the kids; their position in the pack and their
perceived lack of interest in what you show of their work.

I create times and spaces where phones aren’t allowed and my mind cannot
wander on to other things at work. For example, I find it really great when we
are on holiday and we spend the day in the pool. This keeps me away from
my phone, away from my laptop and away from mindless TV programmes
that might be on at the time.

Instead, I can enjoy watching them learn to dive, to swim, to forward roll in the
water and even spend plenty time throwing them across the water or tipping
them off their floats.

Times like this are what the kids will remember. But I need to make sure this
isn’t left to a holiday treat. That would be a crying shame. So there are lessons
and learnings for me to be more present with the kids, and not just there.
What will you see of yourself and your own behaviour
in this challenge?