After a long day at work, you are on your way home and you realize that you have not had a moment of peace or time to yourself in months. Once you reach your house you’re hitting the ground running, just like clockwork, you don’t think you just act. You walk in the door and your picking up book bags, jackets shoes and putting them in their proper place. You’re graced with head nods and a kiss on the cheek from your youngest. She still realizes you are alive. Everyone else is doing their own thing and expecting you to do the same.
You pull out some chicken breast that you took out just that morning to thaw. You grab a couple of potatoes and slice them up into squares, wash them off and toss them into the boiling water on the stove. The grease is just about hot enough for the chicken so you begin to season and flour the chicken breast. All while reciting every word that you know possible that starts with the letter P. “Paul, pig, pepper, Peter, Pots, Pans, Pest…Pester.” You giggle to yourself. Your daughter is none the wiser.
At the dinner table your teens are on their smart phones, you look across the table and notice your husband is also on his smart phone, probably on face book with his friends. Where is the love, the family, and the companionship?
Buried in social media, apps, games, contraptions and texting. What do you really know about your teens, or even your husband for that matter? What do they like to do, who is the closest friend, what goals are they seeking or what sports are they supporting?
So tonight after dinner, instead of revealing that “S” on your chest for super mom let’s try a little exercise. After dinner is done have the teens put their phones down and clean the table off. Have your husband take the garbage out and find other odd things for him to do. Once the kids are done with the table have them help you out in the kitchen. Not only are you spending quality time with them you are also giving them responsibility building character and showing teamwork. These are the moments that they will remember, conversations will spark and into their lives you will walk. Don’t only be the go to person for what they need but be the advice they need to hear, the light at the end of the tunnel the authority and the teacher all wrapped in one.