Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

 

 

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Anyone in or around the Southeast Missouri area was greeted with a beautiful summer morning.  Cooler temperatures mean cooler spirits as far as I'm concerned, especially following such a grueling hot week and weekend.  Celebrate the day, enjoy the respite.

Today's reading from Allen James', The Journey: A Calendar Book reads:

"Take your son/daughter out for a one on one day".

The cliche', "Time flies when you are having fun" certainly becomes more and more meaningful with age.  Although the source of the proverb, "time flies." "...While we dawdle, our lives pass swiftly",  has been traced back in English to 1386 in Chaucer's 'Prologue to the Clerk's Tale.' The earliest American appearance in print is 1710 in 'Mayflower Descendant.' The idea was first expressed by Virgil (70-19 B.C.), who wrote in the 'Aeneid': Fugit inreparabile tempus' (Time is flying never to return)..."  Regardless, the point is clear, make time when there is time, and time spent with offspring becomes some of the most important times in their, and our, lives.

To be certain, there are plenty of articles about making sure we spend individual time with each of our children on a regular basis.  I completely agree: finding time for each child is critical to relationship building.  However, it can often seem like a daunting task and can lead into a guilt complex as a parent if we are not careful. I’m not here to throw out the guilt card, just to refresh our memory on the benefits of sharing individual time with our child/children.


When we spend time with our child without the presence of anyone else, we are showing them they are important.  We can often tell them but as we know, actions go much deeper than our words.  I am often reminded of this when I try to multitask.  Although I'm very good at this, I think I often overlook how it can be perceived by those young ones in my life.  (Not having children of my own I connect mostly with my siblings' children.)  When we fail to stop doing to really listen and make eye contact, we lose the benefit of connecting.

Having just returned from a 4 day conference where I was fortunately enough to spend time with pass students who are now professionals, I was given a new perspective of the impact time together alone can be.

Connection

When time is taken to spend with our children, and give them 100% of our attention, interacting with them, we are helping them feel connected.  We are creating special times for them and us.
We want our child to feel both connected to the family as a whole, but also to each parent in their own way.  As children grow older each parent plays a significantly different role, so having invested in our child with our time will help transition these ‘sometimes’ difficult times.

Confidence

So many aspects contribute to a child’s self-confidence, but it starts primarily in the home.  If a child feels special and important, they generally will see themselves in that light too.  It is all about their perception of who they are.  They will wholeheartedly accept that they are special, important enough we will plan time with them or stop what we are doing to listen to them.

Critical Memories

We all have great family memories stored in the back of our minds, but how many of those are from times shared with only one parent?  Family memories are important, but individual memories  shared with our children have a special way of connecting both.  When we have photos which commemorate times shared together, even better! Having these memories to laugh about for years to come will be a great connector – they can sometimes become our own private jokes.

I've noted several times before I come from a large family; I'm the youngest of seven.  Throughout childhood there were few one on one times I can recall.  My mother expressed to me after I was grown and would come home to visit how special the times were when only one of her seven would come to spend time at home;  she appreciated so much the "one on one" quality time spent when just one was there with whom to "connect".

Take your son/daughter out for a one on on day.  It won't be regretted.  Keep looking up.  : )  AJ

(lifeyourway.com)