Tips for being an attentive parent
All of us want to become attentive parents, but depending on your lifestyle, it can be very challenging to follow through with that goal. No judgment at all – I’m right there with you! As a mom to seven, I try my best every single day, but I also feel like I let my kids down every single day. I’ve learned a lot along the way, though, and I want to share some of what I’ve learned with you. Here are some easy ways to be an attentive parent:
Give yourself an hour a day of self-care
To be able to serve your family, you also need to serve yourself. Self-care is insanely important and if you don’t take care of your wants and needs you will become burned out. Give yourself 1-2 hours each day to work out, take care of your needs, visit a professional dentist in Madison Heights, or do something fun.
Schedule working hours
I don’t know about you, but if I don’t schedule working hours, I will work ALL DAY LONG from my phone. I’ll find myself checking my email when I’m supposed to be reading a book, responding to messages when I’m nap trapped, or trying to do work while I’m doing the bed time routine. This takes time away from my kids and it’s definitely not attentive parenting. Now, I know it’s not easy to schedule work and then leave it alone, but working hours is a game changer, when you work towards it.
Then leave work at work
This is one of the toughest things to do but at some point, you must say enough is enough. After your working hours are up for the day, stop working! Your children deserve your time and attention when you’re at home and by putting the work phone on silent and accepting that any emails or calls can wait, you are putting your kids first. Sure, there are exceptions and your children need to understand that. Some reports or work will need to be done on your “off” time. However, you also have a life and a commitment to your home life. Honor it. If you own a business, that makes it even more challenging, but finding people and companies that can help you run your business while you are away makes this possible. For example, if you are worried about security, have cameras and protect them with the Criterion Technology, Inc. domes. They do injection molded optics for the CCTV, subsea systems, and LiDAR industries. They have 30 years of experience, have served 25 countries, and everything is 100% USA made.
Plan for leftovers
Having to cook every single meal from scratch is just another to-do on your list. Save time, and plan for leftovers 3 days a week, cooking 2-3 days a week, and going out the last day. Eating leftovers will save you so much time, effort, AND money, too.
Ban smart phones and tablets
Make it a rule that no one in your house can use a smartphone or tablets during meal time or family time. The focus should be on time together and nothing else. No matter how badly someone at work needs your attention or no matter how badly you want to share a tweet or post a Facebook update, those are things that can wait. Plus, if you set the example, your children will be less inclined to reach for their devices, too.
Prep the night before
If you’re constantly rushing around in the morning to get breakfast on the table, lunches made, find your kids’ favorite clothes, scrambling to find homework, or your paperwork for that new client, there’s an easy solution – do the legwork the night before. If you can succeed in your planning ahead of time that will allow you more time in the morning to be focused on your children and setting the tone for them to have a productive day at school.
Listen
We can all use a refresher on our listening skills from time to time. Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives that we forget to listen or observe what’s going on around us. Stop and take a few minutes each evening to reflect on the day’s events and how things unfolded. Did anything seem unusual or out of character for your kids? Did they say anything odd or concerning? Ask your spouse what they think and try to come to a consensus on whether there’s any cause for action.