With the holidays fast approaching, our already fast-paced lives become even more hectic! I encourage everyone to find time to take a moment to hit the pause button and reflect on all the things that we have in our lives to be thankful for; our families, our health, our freedoms.
I was reminded today about how our own "busy-ness" sometimes gets in the way of what is truly our business, children. I was having a conversation with a co-worker and while she was trying to inform me of some events that were going on, I was busy multitasking (reading an email, skimming a Title I report) and not giving her my full attention. She called me out on it and that event stuck with me the rest of the day. What if I had given her my full attention? What if I stopped everything that I was doing and looked her in the eyes and actively listened to her questions? That few minutes of my time could have determined the rest of her day.
Keep that in mind as you engage with your children. When you see them after school do you ask them what they learned? Not only do you ask them, but do you listen to their answers and ask follow up questions? Turn the TV off, put the cell phone away and dedicate 15 solid minutes of dialogue between you and your child. I think you will see that it can lead to dramatic positive changes in your daily routine! |