Secret#3. Time = Love.
November 10, 2007 by Scott Hammond
Filed under Family, Fathering, Relationships
Some fathers spend more time with their kids in one day, and some debts due in one week, or even one month!!
Why?…The difference?
Intentionality.
Time spent with your child shows your love by action.
We need both quality and quantity time with our kids.
We need to include them in our world, and include ourselves in their world.
Here’s some examples of what I do with my kids.
These are areas where we’ve found common ground to play together…
- hot tubbing
- trampoline
- on the swing
- basketball
- playing Legos
- playing boardgames
- doing crafts…
You get the picture… find common ground and leverage the time with your kids.
You must be intentional and methodical and sequential if you are to be successful in this endeavor of spending quality time with your kids…
This means…
- date your kids…Go to Starbucks, bagels, McDonald’s, ice cream or whatever
- put them in your day timer or in Outlook
- schedule them, as you would your most precious appointment… because that’s what these are.
have daily and weekly schedule routines together, including…
- Meal times… the best place to teach your kids your values, heritage, and spiritual foundation.
- Bedtimes… a key point in showing love, closing the day correctly, and praying together
- Weekly rituals… Friday night pizza, movie night, the family night etc….
- Running errands… always bring a kid with you on car rides… again leverage the time.
- Chores and projects… build relationships and teach a good work ethic… All in one package!
Let’s address the “I don’t have time” excuse.
Everyone has time, no exceptions.
We give time to what we value the most.
Create time today that you would normally spent on TV, the Internet, sports, hobbies, boating, hunting golfing, or just being lazy….. begin to incrementally give it to your children!
Just hang out with your family and kids because you want to and get to.
Not because you HAVE TO…
Make a solid choice of attitude and motivation.
We GET to hang out with our kids.. we are blessed and privileged!
How could you be more intentional and incremental in dating your kids?
Dream it, plan it, write it, and do it!
Follow through…
If not you, who?
If not now, when?