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! |
