“In a minute” she shot out in frustration never taking her eyes off of the iphone as she texted rapid fire.
In front of her stood a little girl, I watched the little face contort as she hesitated and thoughtfully pleaded at her mother, with her heart…she then gave a little shake of her head and went back to her skipping in place, then stooped down to pick up a stick.
My walking in the park propelled me forward and the scene playing out before my eyes was now behind me…literally, but not figuratively.
My thoughts were not of the dismissive mom, for I do not know her story – this could have been a one time offense while she was seeing to the needs of a friend, or handling a crisis in need of her immediate attention.
My thoughts were of me, of the times behind me literally, where in pursuit of my own daily list of “to do’s” I barked out to my kids, “In a minute.” I hear the whisper of a recording replaying in my mind, remembrances of my son saying, “You always say that.”
Gut check.
The “me and my agenda” Busy Mom trap is so cunning in it’s lures. Yes, there are lots of important things to be done. But those things will always be there. Your children will not. More importantly your opportunities to build relationship with your children will not remain, “In a minute” conditioned children grow into teens who turn their hearts away.
Far too many teens have strained, or minimal relationships with their parents because there has been no time invested building relationship. The lack of intentional time spent with your children seems no big deal when it’s happening, but they add up one “in a minute” at a time and equal a strained relationship.
Gut check…do you need to make time for your children and leave the tasks waiting?
Start tonight.
What You’re Saying