December is a busy month for all parents, even those who have made a Simple Christmas Pledge
It is also an incredibly important month for your Children as it gets closer to Christmas day. The build up of Christmas is as exciting for children as the actual day, if not more so.
By making time for your Children during December it can lead to a lifetime of amazing memories.
I believe the Greatest Gift I can give my Children this Christmas is my time, and this is how you can make that time;
- Get Organised – don’t let the laundry or dishes pile up – December is a busy month without all the usual daily chores, so get organised. Don’t put anything off – as Gretchen Rubin advises – if it takes less than a minute to do, then do it straight away! Tomorrow never comes, and whatever you think you are going to do may not happen. Zap that to-do list or even better don’t put it on the to do list at all. If you can avoid doing it in the first place then don’t do it – i.e lot’s of shopping!
- Put it in your diary – Take the time you plan to spend with your Children as seriously as you would another engagement or meeting. Schedule in time with the Kids, and clear your diary for that time. Focus on them for that time, make it quality time, dedicated their time. Make it a date!
- Plan what you are going to do – Spend some time getting organised for your date. If you are making cards, cakes or playing a board game, make sure that you have everything to hand ready to go before the date begins. All children get impatient, and to eat into their time whilst Mum looks for things will easily sap the fun out of the time you spend together.
- Stick to what you know – Don’t try to conquer the world. The most important thing is that you are spending time together, this isn’t the time for grand ideas which can lead to frustration on both parts. If you are a cook, bake some simple cakes, if you’d rather go for a walk then do that. The simpler the better with kids.
- Remove any distractions – Turn off the PC, put your phone on silent or turn it off – unplug completely. Don’t multi-task, no running the dishwasher or washer whilst you have your date, so there’s no temptation to just quickly unload it. Focus on them completely – ignore everything else.
- Make time for yourself as well – this includes getting enough rest. A tired, grumpy, stressed-out Mum isn’t fun. So if you are planning on spending time with your Kids, make sure that you don’t resent putting the time in – they will pick up on it. Guilt is a healthier feeling than resentment, and most Mum’s feel a certain level of guilt when they make time for themselves, but the kids do benefit long-term – guilty Mommy is sometimes much more fun Mommy!
- Have Fun! – This is the most important part! The beauty of having kids is that you can go back to your own childhood. Find your inner child, be silly, laugh, get involved. So what if the cakes don’t turn out very well, or the glue tips over, or they get wet when they jump in puddles – that’s the fun bit – the bits they (and you) will remember for a lifetime.
The next post will focus on what you can do with that time – Simply of course!
Great tips, Jo!
I like the make time for yourself reminder. I think I have missed that in my planning…
Only making two baking standbys this year: a bar cookie and chocolate peppermint bark. The bark is labor intensive but I do love it (so does family).
Will be unplugging (no blogging but checking email occasionally) from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.
We all miss out number 6 – but it is so important… the bark sounds fantastic – if you get time do share!
Great tips, Jo!
I like the make time for yourself reminder. I think I have missed that in my planning…
Only making two baking standbys this year: a bar cookie and chocolate peppermint bark. The bark is labor intensive but I do love it (so does family).
Will be unplugging (no blogging but checking email occasionally) from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.
We all miss out number 6 – but it is so important… the bark sounds fantastic – if you get time do share!
Great tips, Jo!
I like the make time for yourself reminder. I think I have missed that in my planning…
Only making two baking standbys this year: a bar cookie and chocolate peppermint bark. The bark is labor intensive but I do love it (so does family).
Will be unplugging (no blogging but checking email occasionally) from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.
We all miss out number 6 – but it is so important… the bark sounds fantastic – if you get time do share!
I really love #5 and #7. It’s so easy/tempting to multi-task when you’re home. You just look around and see so much to do! But my children really do notice when I’m not giving them 100% (which I can’t do ALL the time, of course), and my older one can now verbalize it! Sos he’s a good reality check. And of course, the beauty of having children is exactly what you said: being able to look at the world with new eyes and wonder. Your children are lucky to have you, Jo.
I really love #5 and #7. It’s so easy/tempting to multi-task when you’re home. You just look around and see so much to do! But my children really do notice when I’m not giving them 100% (which I can’t do ALL the time, of course), and my older one can now verbalize it! Sos he’s a good reality check. And of course, the beauty of having children is exactly what you said: being able to look at the world with new eyes and wonder. Your children are lucky to have you, Jo.
I really love #5 and #7. It’s so easy/tempting to multi-task when you’re home. You just look around and see so much to do! But my children really do notice when I’m not giving them 100% (which I can’t do ALL the time, of course), and my older one can now verbalize it! Sos he’s a good reality check. And of course, the beauty of having children is exactly what you said: being able to look at the world with new eyes and wonder. Your children are lucky to have you, Jo.
Thank you for the lovely comment R! It’s not possible to give all your time… It’s the old ‘quality vs quantity’, life goes on,there are chores to do and blogs to write (haha!) – but when that time is scheduled in – that hour or two – it’s their time.I remember how my Mom used to play a board game with me every night after she had cleared away from dinner during the winter. I loved that time so very much. It was also a fantastic way of getting me to help with the dishes so we could get started – clever Mom! (Your Children are very lucky to have you too x)
Thank you for the lovely comment R! It’s not possible to give all your time… It’s the old ‘quality vs quantity’, life goes on,there are chores to do and blogs to write (haha!) – but when that time is scheduled in – that hour or two – it’s their time.I remember how my Mom used to play a board game with me every night after she had cleared away from dinner during the winter. I loved that time so very much. It was also a fantastic way of getting me to help with the dishes so we could get started – clever Mom! (Your Children are very lucky to have you too x)
Thank you for the lovely comment R! It’s not possible to give all your time… It’s the old ‘quality vs quantity’, life goes on,there are chores to do and blogs to write (haha!) – but when that time is scheduled in – that hour or two – it’s their time.I remember how my Mom used to play a board game with me every night after she had cleared away from dinner during the winter. I loved that time so very much. It was also a fantastic way of getting me to help with the dishes so we could get started – clever Mom! (Your Children are very lucky to have you too x)
This is my last message before the kids wake up from their nap: If I ever win the New York lottery (huge jackpot!), I am going to send you and Rachel each one of these babies:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-deluxe-slow-cooker-with-aluminum-insert/?pkey=e%7Cslow%2Bcooker%7C4%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-
I’ve already picked a name out for the gorgeous pot in case you ever do hit it big – Bridget (of course!) xx
This is my last message before the kids wake up from their nap: If I ever win the New York lottery (huge jackpot!), I am going to send you and Rachel each one of these babies:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-deluxe-slow-cooker-with-aluminum-insert/?pkey=e%7Cslow%2Bcooker%7C4%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-
I’ve already picked a name out for the gorgeous pot in case you ever do hit it big – Bridget (of course!) xx
This is my last message before the kids wake up from their nap: If I ever win the New York lottery (huge jackpot!), I am going to send you and Rachel each one of these babies:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-deluxe-slow-cooker-with-aluminum-insert/?pkey=e%7Cslow%2Bcooker%7C4%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-
I’ve already picked a name out for the gorgeous pot in case you ever do hit it big – Bridget (of course!) xx
such simple tips, yet so easily forgotten! i don’t have kids yet, but this still pertains to my life. it’s so easy to get so caught up and ignore those that are important to you.
such simple tips, yet so easily forgotten! i don’t have kids yet, but this still pertains to my life. it’s so easy to get so caught up and ignore those that are important to you.
such simple tips, yet so easily forgotten! i don’t have kids yet, but this still pertains to my life. it’s so easy to get so caught up and ignore those that are important to you.
Quite right Marianney – we need to make time for all our loved ones… whether that be at Christmas or throughout the year. Never take anyone for granted!
Quite right Marianney – we need to make time for all our loved ones… whether that be at Christmas or throughout the year. Never take anyone for granted!
Quite right Marianney – we need to make time for all our loved ones… whether that be at Christmas or throughout the year. Never take anyone for granted!