How are you connecting with your kids during the quarantine?
Like many parents, you may feel overwhelmed by trying to juggle work and time with your kids. It can be exhausting. On the other hand, you, like other parents, have an opportunity to connect with your kids in new ways. The schedule has slowed down, and we have limited places we can go.
Moses exhorts parents in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Notice the simplicity of this exhortation. Seize the ordinary moments of your life. Place reminders around your home. Often, we buy the lie that parenting is about the big moments, but if we look back, it was the small, consistent, faithful moments that meant so much to us.
No matter the age of your child – baby, toddler, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, or an adult – you have a golden opportunity to connect with your kids.
How can we seize the extra time with your kids? I want to offer a few simple ways that you can start today:
Start sending them emails with significant messages.
When my daughter Hayley was born, we created an email for her, and I began to email her each week. I found this discipline to be helpful for me as a parent to discern what messages I needed to share with her. It also provided a space to share valuable memories. Take the time to say what you have always wanted to say to your kids.
Make a playlist with songs connected to your kids.
Can you remember the songs of your childhood? Whether older or younger kids, take time to start a playlist. Older kids can even add songs too. Then, when you go on rides or hang out in the house, you know have a reminder of kids through music. Be ready for the dance parties.
Go through old photos.
Apps like TimeHop share the photos we posted from social media. Get out those boxes of pictures. Talk to your kids about the people in the pictures. Let this be a time to tell stories.
Listen to podcasts together.
I received one of the highest compliments for the Why God Why Podcast that I host. A father said that he listens to each episode with his middle school son. What shows can you listen to together for conversation?
Cook meals together.
Robyn, my wife, has invited Hayley, to help her make brownies and other dinners. Others of our family members have had their kids plan a meal to cook. Capture these moments together.
What are the ways you are connecting with your kids during the quarantine? Share in the comment section below.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash