Give your Family Presence not Presents

Father’s Day approaches and will you be browsing through the selection reading the words to find one that reflects your relationship with your father? Or if you are a father will you read the words and hope that your off-spring think those things of you? One that struck me today was “Anyone can be a Father, but it takes effort to be a Dad”

Studies time and again tell us that the one thing children want above anything else is their parents’ time. Do you give your attention to your child when then they are being naughty and then ignore them and get on with your own ‘stuff’ when they are behaving? Think about it?

Would they perhaps behave better more of the time if you gave them your full attention on a regular basis? What’s stopping you, the computer, your work, the television? Will these things give you a hug at night? Are you really too busy to take your kids out on a play date or to spend 10 minutes reading to them as they go to sleep?

Practice being present- engaging with your family energetically and enthusiastically.  You know when you are with someone whether they are fully present with you or if their mind in wandering. You know when someone at the other end of the phone is doing something else and not really listening. Don’t just give you family your physical presence; give them your emotional presence.

It can be tough at first but I promise you it will be worth it when you get a card that tells you what a fantastic, caring, loving Dad you are and how much they love you now and always.

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