What is your response when your kids ask, “Mommy,will you play with me?”

Every day feels like I am rushing around trying to get one more thing done. More often than I’d like to admit, I say, ” in a minute, not right now, or mommy’s busy,” to our kids when they ask me, “Mommy will you play with me?” What am I busy doing that it takes precedent over them so often?

Yes, I think it’s good for kids to see that life takes work and not every thing is fun and games, but I never want them to feel like any of that is more important than they are. All it takes in a little ones heart is about ten minutes of undivided attention to feel like they are the most important person in your life. No matter how busy I feel, I can make 10 minutes.

So on Fridays, I don’t do any of that everyday stuff.

I try not to answer the phone, be on the computer, or do chores around the house unless they are sleeping. I purpose to make them feel extra special, to play with them, read to them, sing and dance with them, pray with them, and lay in their beds with them if the opportunity arises. I make sure they know just how important they are to me. When they ask, “Mommy will you play with me?”, I say yes.

And guess what? The house doesn’t fall apart. I manage to get all the necessities done while they sleep and you can’t even tell a difference. Makes me wonder why I don’t parent like this everyday.

This is also the night that my husband and I have “date night”.

Usually it’s at home after the kids are asleep, but we sit together and watch a show or talk without the interruption of our iPads, phones, or other modern distractions. It is something so simple, but it’s a time set aside for us to reconnect. Remember that this relationship needs time and intention too.

 If I had my priorities right, each day I would run around less and giggle with my kids more.

Having one day a week where I purpose in my heart to take extra care of that relationship really helps me refocus on what’s important. I can tell my kids notice a difference. The day always feels more relaxed and behavior tends to be a lot easier to manage. It is my hope that I can merge my Friday disposition with every other day of the week and not let the hustle of life take over. I am working towards this. I will never be a perfect parent, and I have found peace with that, but I can control the amount of time and effort I put into the relationships in our house.

One day, my little kids will no longer ask me, “mommy will you play with me?” so I want to make sure I don’t miss out while they still do. I know it can be very hard as a parent. There are a thousand other things to do. The laundry pile at my house is always ten feet tall no matter how many loads I just washed. The dishes pile up quickly and the floors are never clean. But honestly, it’s not that important. We can slow down, let things be, and just enjoy the years we have to raise our kids.

If you spend the time now building that relationship with your children you will have a relationship with them when they get big. When you want them to talk to you about what’s on their heart. My kids are precious. Each one unique and amazing in their own way and I know yours are too. They are gifts trusted to us just for a little while and one day they will go out into the world and not need us anymore. Use the little time you have with them to guide them, teach them, and love them.

Today, show them that they are more important to you than the million things on your to do list by saying “yes of course”, instead of “in a minute”.

If you are looking for great activities to do with your kiddos, take a look at these posts;

The 7 Best Classic Games You Need to Play with your Kids

How Photography can make you Live in the Moment as a Mom

12 Quick Pre-Reading Activities you need to do at Home