The times that you spend with your children are precious. I bet you can still remember the moment each one of your children was born, and now they are growing quickly into school-aged children. Your days are probably busy with working, running a household, taking the kids to their activities, doing homework with the kids, and cooking the meals.
These busy days make the time go by quickly, leaving you little time to enjoy the best moments in your child’s life. So during the holiday season, bring the love and joy of Christmas back to your children. Focus on them and make use of these special, gifted moments.
Plan Vacation Early
If you work for yourself or a company, plan your vacation for the holidays ahead of time. Ensure that you have at least one to two weeks with your children. If they are usually at the babysitter or at school, this will be a nice time to have free moments with your children.
Working through the holidays, if you don’t have to, should be spent with your children, because you got only one chance to see them grow up. If you work in retail, it may be difficult to take vacation, but see if you can negotiate some time off, even if it is a day or two. Each moment matters.
Dedicate Time Solely to Your Children
At Christmas time, put away the phones, the tablets, the computers, and dedicate all your attention and time with your children. Ask them what they would like to do, and plan activities that you all will do together without the interruption of phone calls or text messaging.
Even ask your children to put away their phones, if they have them, so they can be focused on the activity you are doing together, whether it is watching a movie, looking at Christmas lights, or just strolling the shopping mall together drinking warm cocoa or coffee.
Bake Homemade Cookies
Nothing says Christmas, love, and good times than baking cookies together. It’s something about the warm oven and cookie dough that makes everyone smile. Let each child pick their favorite cookie to bake, and eat them nice and warm from the oven.
Sit in the kitchen, baking, eating, and talking – just enjoying the company of each person. These are the best ways to spend your time. Let your children enjoy eating the cookies they baked, and if there are extras go as a family and take some to a neighbor.
If there is one time that we should all come together, that is Christmas. It is about family, and especially about our children. These are the memories that our children will hold dear to them and one day share with their children. So create the good memories – the fun memories. Don’t waste the precious time that you have.