Long before you became a parent I am sure you heard mothers all around you saying they wish their kids would be little again. Now that you have become one yourself I would be willing to bet that you have said the same thing a time or two.
What happens as kids grow is they tend to separate themselves from us. Watching them get on the bus or dropping them off at their first sleepover can be a moment filled with tears for even the toughest of mothers. Rather than shedding tears, realize that this is an important step in the development process, and do what you can to assist.
It’s normal to wish that they would always be your cuddle bugs and won’t ever shun you in public. But that isn’t realistic. Kids (especially teenagers) go through periods where parents are the last people they want around them. We just don’t understand what they are going through. Little do they know that we have been there, done that and sport the t-shirt from time to time.
As you watch them transition from baby to toddler and all the way up to adult, it is important to block out family time. Your sassy teenager is probably going to have a sour face when you make her go bowling on a Friday night, especially in the moment that her friends from school show up. Who cares, she will eventually get over it and you are instilling the importance of family.
There will come a time that they will need you, and by enforcing family bonding moments they will know that you want to be there. Through these times you will learn about each other and as your kids grow you will want to let them know more about you. That way, they won’t be afraid to come to you when they experience things they don’t think you will like.
Holidays should always be about family and there is never an exception to this, at least until they are grown and have their own partner which changes many dynamics. At that point you can expect that they may miss an event or two, so while they are under your roof you get them all to yourself. Cherish that, because it doesn’t last.
It doesn’t matter if it’s Memorial Day or Christmas, your kids need to be a part of the day’s events. This will again stress the importance in family and the special moments belonging to one another. While gifts are hardly the important things that come with holidays, it is a way in which we show that we are thinking about those close to us.
When your kids are young have them make cards for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the holidays where gifts are given. As they get a little bit older start helping them pick out gifts and teach them the importance in going with something suited for the individual at hand. This is how they will learn to show that not only to they love that person, but they know what they like. You already know how good it feels to receive a gift that screams “you.”
This coming Father’s Day why don’t you sit down with your little ones and discuss what they would like to get for dad? Sites like www.berries.com are a real time saver. They offer wonderful gift baskets that range from fruits, coffee or even wine. These are a huge improvement over another tie. Stress to them that gifts should come from the heart and that Dad deserves something that he will love, as when he shops for them he keeps their interest in mind.
There’s nothing more important than family, so it’s important that you show your children the importance of showing their loved ones just how they feel on their special day.
