Whether we like it or not, many of us are working full-time, while also being full-time parents. You may dream of what it would be like to spend more time with your little ones, but probably won’t get the chance to make that happen.
This is also my situation. I would absolutely love to be able stay at home, rather than drop three-year-old daughter, Lennox, off at childcare. I would love to spend the days doing fun activities, but that just isn’t in the cards for us. As parents, we have to work full-time and be full-time parents, it’s just a fact of life, for better or worse.
So how do I deal with the fact that I only get to see my daughter an hour each morning and 3-4 hours each evening + weekends? I’m not going to lie; it’s a very hard balance. I’m still trying to figure out, but I have made a conscience decision to make a better effort to make the best out of it.
If I have chores that need to be done, I have Lennox help me. She is now at the age where she enjoys and is fully capable of doing so. She will help me get the laundry together, do the dishes, feed the pets, water the flowers, etc.
When all that is done, I have tried to come up with more fun activities to do with her. Where do I find most of these ideas? Pinterest of course! Crafts are a great way for us to spend some quality time together. From Easter Handprint Bunnies to Hand Print Flower Bouquets, Lennox has fun creating works of art and having mommy right by to help and teach her.
I have also made it a point to get outside while the weather is still nice, get to the playground, play hopscotch or draw pictures on the sidewalk. All the activities we would do normally, just for a shorter amount of time in the evenings. We both look forward to that time together!
So, that being said, here are my top 3 tips for making the most of our time together.
- Get your little one involved in all of your daily routine chores. Chores are not a hassle for a little one (teenagers? that’s a different story!), they will like helping out.
- Find crafts, activities, and local events to do with your children and give them your undivided attention during those times.
- Be ok with the situation – you work full-time, along with millions of other parents, such is life and you are setting a good example for your loved one.
Doing all of these activities together helps the guilty mom + sad mom moments get less significant. I will always wish I had more time with my daughter, but I know I am doing what I have to, to help support our family and her. I try to make the most of every moment I have with her, because soon she will grow up to be an adult herself!
I would love to hear what YOU do to make the most of your time with your child!
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Heather is a Montessori Mom to Lennox, Blogger, Designer and toes in the sand girl at heart! She traveled across the country from Cape Cod to meet her husband and now raise their little family in Texas. Heather’s blog, Terrell Family Fun, talks about all the adventures of raising a toddler! Make sure to head over and check out her blog, as well as stay connected on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!










