Making Time For Family
Written by Lance Green
Time is a funny thing… how did we get to this point of going bald and changing nappies while getting used to the smell of poo? Family is important – we all know that. It’s hectic trying to run errands, work full-time and be able to handle all the “manly” stuff around the household, but hopefully us dads are doing a good job and keeping our partners happy everyday.
Our children are our most prized gems and of course, spending every minute with them is the dream; we must make it our priority everyday to be involved in some capacity. Reading stories, feeding them the right meals and having a laugh is what makes us feel like awesome parents, but how do we juggle everything when it comes to making time for family?
Know the importance of work but know when to quit
While it’s important to provide a roof over your head, food on the table and being able to spend money on the newest gadgets, it’s easy to feel like you’re chained to your work. You may need to travel a lot for your job and you lose communication with your family due to different time zones.
You stay back late at the office more than you’re supposed to because you’d rather grab a few beers with your mates instead of spending time with your partner and kids. Though it’s perfectly normal to strive for financial stability, remember that a paycheck is nothing compared to the time you spend with your family. Quit your job if you can’t arrange a flexible work schedule for your personal life. Allow yourself to be present when it comes to them.
Go on a date once in a while
As much as we love our little kids, it feels so good to be able to spend one on one time with your partner. Let’s be real: if you stop watching them for a second, they’ve run off with the fairies. Nonetheless, if your schedule can make it work, have a date night with your partner and do something fun.
Go to the movies, see a new play and grab some dinner afterwards. You’ll be able to discuss concerns with each other and be able to reminisce about the past. It’s also a great way to reconnect after feeling like there’s been no time to relax from the hustle and bustle of life.
Find time to recharge
It’s easy to get caught up in life’s distractions, but how do you keep up when the marathon you’re running isn’t easy to complete? Finding time to recharge is important for our health and sanity.
Whether it’s taking a long, hot shower or attending to our plants in the garden, it’s important to look after our own wellbeing and embrace the downtime. It also helps having a bit of silence and not have any kids yelling down your ears for the last few hours. Total bliss!
Remember how much they love and support you
Although you will go through hard times, your family are there for you through thick and thin. There will be moments in our life that will bring us down and sometimes all you need is to hear a lame joke from your partner or seeing your children take their first steps. Though we take these moments for granted, it’s important to not lose sight of your family. Value their time, make countless memories and return the same love and support they give you.
Learn to be happy with yourself
Having a dad bod is not cool (or so they say), but hey, all you need is confidence in yourself to be happy. You may not have the perfect body or career, but if you learn to appreciate the other qualities you have, you start feeling good about yourself.
Having self-esteem or mental health issues is not fun because you go into the state of withdrawal from everything, including spending time with the people you care about. Of course, this is unintentional but if you ever find yourself feeling depressed or have symptoms of anxiety, get help immediately. Your family care about you so your happiness is a big priority too.
Having a family rules. Whether you’re sad or happy, they are always going to be there for you every step of the way. When you find yourself struggling to make time for them, make arrangements that let you make it possible. We only have one life to live and having a family is one of the best parts of it.