“Mommy, when are we going to have Adi-Mommy day?”
My oldest twin, Adeline, had been asking for a special day with me for months now. It’s a tradition we started when our twins were three — my husband would take one twin for one-on-one time and I’d take the other. These special days help us spend quality time with our girls and also allows them the chance to have our undivided attention; something that is rare in a house with three littles, two full-time jobs, and busy evenings filled with extracurricular activities.
Even though I was about to release my first devotional and was still weak from being sick just a few days before, I told my five-year-old we could have Adi-Mommy day after church last Sunday. That morning, she picked out a special dress and had me put her hair in a bun with a ribbon (like Anna’s hair for Coronation Day in Frozen, just in case you were wondering) and was so excited she could hardly wait for church to be over. Her sister felt the same way.
As I buckled her up in the car, I had a few ideas of what we could do for the day. I was thinking Mexican food, then shopping, and finally a mani-pedi. But, this was Adeline’s day so when she said she wanted ice cream for lunch, I obliged. Funny thing was that when we pulled up to the ice cream shop, her sister had asked for the same thing! We sat at separate tables but my husband and I shared a wink, knowing that this was one of the crazy things twins just naturally do. As different as they can be, they still think so much alike.
After ice cream, my husband took her sister to a jump house and Adeline declared that it was time to get our nails done. We both got pedicures and she also had polish (with sparkles) on her fingers. While soaking our feet, she shared with me the little things that make her who she is and asked me questions about who I was. Once we were done, we headed to Target to buy her a special toy and some new shoes. She even “let” me do some grocery shopping while she was there and didn’t complain once. Target runs are usually filled with lots of compromising and negotiating and popcorn flying everywhere between all three kids, but this time it was actually fun! When we were done, she didn’t want to leave and neither did I. So, we cranked up the car, listened to Katy Perry’s Roar for the tenth time that day and drove around before heading home. It truly was a special day, and we came home with our quality time love tanks filled to the brim.
Carving out special one-on-one days with our kids is not only fun, but it is necessary. Just like dates are necessary between a husband and wife, quality time with our kids is just as important. Because these special days are rare, we can really pour extra effort and attention into our kids and in return, they are rewarded for their good behavior. Even if you are a stay-at-home mom who spends all day with her kids, it is still a good idea to get out of the house and do something special.
Here are five tips that I have for spending quality time with your kids:
1. Let them plan the day
While we can’t just hop on over to Disney World (that’s what my other twin wants to do on Mommy-Maralee day!), there are fun places in our hometowns that are special treats for our kids. Some suggestions are mani-pedi’s, donut shops, bike trails, batting cages, and race-car tracks. Let your child pick what he/she wants to do even though it might be something a little pricey, you are saving money by doing it with just one child instead of the whole family.
2. Make sure the place they want to go to is open
Since we chose our special day on a Sunday, our first choice for getting our nails done was closed. Do a quick search on store hours and cost on Sundays before heading out to spend quality time with your kids. Thankfully we found another nail spot just around the corner but if you can avoid disappointment by planning ahead, I’d strongly recommend it!
3. Remind yourself it is about them, not you
Since I’m naturally a planner, I would not have chosen dessert for lunch but it truly made Adeline’s day when I ordered a big bowl of ice cream with cookie dough. For kids, getting to eat dessert first is truly a treat and sometimes we have to revert to being a kid ourselves and let go of the plans to just enjoy spending time with our children.
4. Find some time to talk
Adeline didn’t reveal any life-altering secrets to me, but she was able to open up and talk to me about what makes her tick on our one-on-one day. She also surprised me by picking out things at Target that I would have never expected her to like. As she grows up, she’s changing and spending this time with her has helped me know how to handle her on the crazy-busy days when she might act out a little more.
5. Realize what is important
Even though I had a million items on my to-do list to get completed for work, I knew that spending time with Adeline was more important than getting those items finished. Sometimes we have to put work aside and take a break to remember how special of a gift it is to be a parent. Spending time with Adeline actually gave me more motivation to complete my tasks when I got home, and I was in such a better mood than I would have been if I’d just stayed at home.
With the holidays coming up, life is going to get even more busy and one-on-one time with our kids is going to be even more difficult to find. But I truly believe that when life gets the busiest, it is these moments that we need to pause, take a break, and rejuvenate. Our kids’ behavior is a direct reflection on how happy or stressed we are as their parents. Taking time out of the schedule to spend with our kids will help us all communicate better and is a great reminder of what is most important in life. I’m grateful to be a mom and spending time with my kids reminds me why I work so hard, and that I really matter to them. At the end of the day when I kissed her goodnight, Adeline still didn’t want me to leave. Her little heart was full, and I’m so thankful that just a few hours of girl time helped her know just how much she is loved.
Schedule some one-on-one time with your child this week. You won’t regret it!
Christen Price is the mom to twin girls and a baby boy. She’s just released a new devotional titled, “Practice Hospitality” where she encourages you to release your fears, receive others, and rejoice in what God is doing in your life. This ten-day devotional also features some of her favorite dishes for entertaining and is the perfect gift for the holidays. You can learn more about Practice Hospitality at christenprice.com.
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
