My two sons are the best of friends. They get along well, most of the time. But they also have very different personalities. As they grow up, those differences are becoming increasingly clear. They’re both growing and changing so quickly, it difficult to keep up with everything. Add our busy day-to-day lives on top of that, and it can seem like an insurmountable obstacle.
I’ve made it a non-negotiable priority to truly connect with my sons every single day. It starts when I pick them up after work. We talk in the car about their favorite part of the day and their least favorite part of the day. We talk about what they each did at school or daycare. It’s a short drive home, but I relish that time to hear about their playground adventures and what they learned.
I also try (key emphasis on the word “try”) to have a block of one-on-one time with each of them on a weekly basis. Sometimes it’s early morning cuddles on the couch while one is still asleep. Maybe it’s a run to the grocery store. Or a hot chocolate date at the coffee shop. Sometimes it’s a movie date. The what doesn’t really matter to either of them. It’s a special time with just me or just dad.
It gives each of them the opportunity to develop a unique relationship with each of their parents. It gives the same to us. In those moments, I learn just as much (if not more) from them as they do from me. I cherish those one-on-one times with them. They are often the highlight of my day. As they continue to grow up, those times, both big and small, will become even harder to come by. And I will continue to hold that time sacred.
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Photo Credit: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/10/08/10/son-2935723_640.jpg?attachment