Spending Time With Your Children
I believe the most important thing any father can do is spend time with their children. Whether rich or poor, time is the one thing we all have, and spending as much of it on your children will pay big dividends.
Many of my friends lack the courage to follow through on their dreams, and the one thing they all have in common is that they are still seeking approval from one or both of their parents, typically the one they admit didn’t spend much time with them as a child.
Your child will gain this approval over time as you spend quality time with them. You’ll also gain their approval later in life when a social life becomes a priority to them and they still like spending time with you.
While most parents understand the importance of spending time with their kids, what few realize is that their children want them to spend all their time with them. Though it may be boring, or downright excruciating at times, nothing will be more rewarding for you or your child.
Discussion Points:
- Is there something more important than spending time with your children?
- Has a lack of time spent with your parents led to any problems as an adult?
- How much time is too little/too much?
July 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 am
Unless you’re the US President (who puts focus and priority, assumingly, on the country), family should come first. Though my dad spent less time with me as I grew up, we don’t have problems now. However, the price we need to pay is we are not as close as I want it to be. Of course I wish he’d have talked to me more when I was small.
As long as you do something you and your child enjoy, I don’t think you should set a minimum amount of time on this. Quality not quantity counts. 10 minutes spent just to be crazy with my son is much better than 1 hour doing boring stuff together.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Hi Abel, thanks for the comment and for helping fathers be better dads.
My parents divorced when I was a baby, and though I love my father, we aren’t as close as I’d like either. That’s been getting better with years, but I don’t think it will ever get to the point I “wished” it would.
I agree with you spending quality time is vastly more important than just spending time. I can see some confusion in what I wrote, but I was making the point that kids want ALL your time, and when possible you should spend it with them.
Happy 4th to you and yours!
November 6th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
[…] lot of time. Any large square plastic container would probably work for a mold. It is a fun way to spend time outside together anyway but we’ll probably have to wait at least another month for the snow to pile […]