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Spending Time Means Spending Time

Last year I had the opportunity to present our Duck Sense For Dads program for a world parenting conference. Prior to the event I interviewed teens and adults, asking them, “What are the best memories you have of your dad?” Everyone we interviewed gave us the same answer. “The best times were the times when dad really and truly spent quality time with me.”

How does one define quality time?

Quality time is a few minutes and or hours in which we give our children our undivided attention. For example if I take my kids out to Chucky Cheese for some pizza and fun, I should not be running around looking for the TV to see how bad the Detroit Lions are losing. Spending quality time is standing beside them at the video games, showing interest and giving advice. Crawling through the tubes playing tag or cuddling watching Chucky singing on stage. Believe it or not our kids love it when parents need their help to stand up in the ball crawl or when we receive the lowest score in laser tag.

If you asked my children what their fondest memories are, they won’t say it was the day dad bought me an electric scooter or fancy video game. But they will tell you of the night when dad played flash light tag with them dressed all in black, wearing a dark face mask, and how funny it was when the neighbor phoned the police because she thought the house was being robbed.

When we promise our kids that we are going to spend the afternoon with them we need to keep our commitment. Turn off the cell phone and leave the laptop behind. For many years a good friend of mine used to ask us to join him and his children on his boat for an afternoon of fun. His kids were so excited to spend some time fishing and tubing with dad. Unfortunately, most of the time their dad was on the laptop or talking on the cell phone trying to close a deal. Every parent I know wants their kids to listen, respect, honor and keep to their obligations to us but we as parent need to listen, respect and keep our promise to them.

Repeat these words so they sink into your consciousness:

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER _fill in the blank (deal, football/hockey game, golf classic, car race) BUT MY KIDS WILL ONLY BE YOUNG ONCE.

Statistics show that the more parents are involved with their children the less likely to have social/ behavior problems and more likely to excel in school. Make a promise to yourself today and plan to spend some quality one on one time with your kids.

Here are five Duck Sense For Dads suggestions that will help improve your relationship with your children.


1) TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE

2) SHUT OFF THE TV

3) SHUT OFF THE LITTLE RADIO PLAYING THE GAME THROUGH THE EAR PIECE.

4) SHUT OFF THE COMPUTER

5) HAVE FUN SPENING TIME WITH YOUR KIDS!

Copyright Richard Paul 2005


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