With Christmas approaching and the headache of finding the best gift, I’d like to talk to you about a topic that’s particularly close to my heart: the time we spend with our children. In our hectic lives, where days seem to flow into one another in a whirlwind of duties, chores, and obligations, it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning of being there for our children. So let’s take a moment to reflect on the true value of time and how it can transform our relationship with our children.

Quality time

Unlike toys or other material gifts, our presence is what they value most. When we are fully engaged, without distractions, we show them that they are important. It is in these moments that we create memorable moments and strong bonds.

When I think about my childhood, the memories that come to mind are often simple moments: playing hide-and-seek, making pillow huts, my evening routine of the little bundle falling into bed, or simply walking in nature with the people in my world, chatting about everything and nothing. These precious moments, when my family was fully present for me, have left a deep mark on me. I want to offer the same richness of experience to my children.

Be totally present

I know the real challenge lies in our ability to be fully present and give quality time. With our cell phones at our fingertips, it’s so easy to get distracted by notifications, emails, and social media. Yet, it’s essential (for us and our children) to dedicate time where we put all these distractions aside. It may seem simple, but how often do we actually do it?

Honestly, when I want to spend time with my kids, I make a conscious effort not to check my phone… And that’s when I realize how much it enriches my time with my kids.

Giving our full presence to our children, knowing they have our undivided attention, often opens the door to meaningful conversations. Moreover, every smile, every burst of laughter, every shared moment becomes a precious memory, both for our child and for us.

Creating traditions

To integrate this quality time into our daily lives, it can be helpful to create traditions. Whether it’s Sunday pancakes, pizza and movie night, or a family walk after dinner, these traditions become a special time and strengthen our bonds. I remember a time when I was a child, when we had “Friday game night” at our house. Every Friday, the whole family would gather around a board game. These evenings had become eagerly awaited moments and we would even debate during the week which games we were going to play…and who would win between me and my brothers 😉.

Encourage your children to participate in creating these traditions. Let them choose activities that are meaningful to them. This will engage them and make them even more excited to participate. Just knowing that these moments are priorities for you is a powerful message that will stay with them.