Work and other things often times lead to us spending a lot less time with our families than we would want to. It’s the classic story of working extra hours only to come home and find your kids sleeping and you eating a reheated meal by yourself. That’s no way to live and there is surely something that can be done about it. It’s important to spend as much time as possible with our family because even in close quarters such as direct family, not having enough interaction can strain relationships and just make you not be that close anymore.
Family night out
However, it’s important to keep in mind that as kids older, they get the idea that they don’t need their parents that much, so naturally they won’t want to spend as much time with you anymore. Spend as much time as possible with our family. You can attempt to spend more time with them but watch out not to make it look too forced. What that means is that you should allow them their privacy first and foremost, and try to pick activities and times for these activities that aren’t as obviously divulging your intentions of wanting to spend more time. Pick things that all parties enjoy doing and pick times that are OK with everyone. You can’t expect them to be happy about not being able to go out one night or to hang out with their friends as usual for one afternoon, but you can expect them to be reasonable and accord you this “date”.
Work from home
Another thing that you can do is try to work from home. This will naturally make you spend more time with your kids especially if they’re smaller and are home more often. Just by being around you will talk more and have conversations about them without making it feel like an interrogatory for them. If you’re intrigued by the idea of working from home then why not find out more? Look up how you can start your own venture maybe and you might be able to get them to participate as well. It wouldn’t hurt fort them to develop business skills early on but it has to be something they like as well.
Their wants and needs are your way in
If your kids want something from you, don’t just buy it for them then deliver it. If they want you to buy them something like games, toys, or clothes and jewelry for older kids, you can take this opportunity to go to the mall with them and make a day out of it. If they want something like a swing set in the yard, don’t buy it. You can convince them to help you build it. It’s going to take more time but it can be an activity that the whole family can bond over and the end result will forever stand testimony of your strengthened connection.
