Savor Time With Your Kids
Today we’re going to talk about slowing time down and savouring time with our little kids.
Some of the biggest concerns my clients bring to me are:
I’m going to wake up in 5 years from now wondering what happened
If I stay overwhelmed, the big cost will be the opportunity to enjoy this fleeting time with my kids
I fear my current feelings towards parenthood are going to grow and accidentally turn me into the type of parent I don't want to be, with a bad relationship with both my spouse and kid
If I don’t make changes now, it will cost me having good memories of early motherhood and family time
It’s easy to say, but when we’re in it, you’re usually always waiting for bed time, nap time, TV time, frankly any time to yourself.
But I want to share an excerpt from one of my favourite writers and time management expert, Laura Vanderkam.
Laura says:
“Do you ever feel like the days blend into each other? A week passes and it’s hard to say what distinguished that week from any other week.
Much of adult life is like that. We stick to our routines – which is often wise, because routines make good choices automatic! – but when too much sameness stacks up, years disappear into memory sinkholes, measured only in the changing heights of children.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t say “where did the time go?” when we remember where the time went.
So here is the tip she recommends, that I’ve seen work brilliantly with mums to little kids:
Each week, aim to do two things that are memorable, and a little out of the ordinary.
A “big adventure”, which could take 3-4 hours (think half a weekend day), e.g. a trip to the pool, a concert, a hike.
A “little adventure”, which could take an hour or so (doable on a lunch break or a weekday evening), e.g. a trip to a new park or cafe, a surprise ice cream.
Two adventures a week is a good rhythm. Laura found in her studies that it’s not too tiring, or too expensive, but it is enough to change your experience of time.
She says, “As you look back on a week, you see that it wasn’t a week just like any other. It was the week you went to the orchid show, or went ice skating, or tubing, or tried that new ramen restaurant or… you get the picture.”
If you implement this, you’ll feel proud and accomplished, and like a fun Mum, and it will only take you half a day-ish each week. Your kids will enjoy the time and you’ll have extra plans in the calendar to stave off any boredom.
Mums also often struggle with spending quality time with their kiddos without the distraction of their mile long to do list and this technique also solves that problem for you.
This week, choose a big and little adventure and get them on the calendar! And if you’d prefer to hear this in audio form, you can download my private podcast, The Time-Savvy Toddler Mum.
