Thank you Hyland’s Good Morning for sponsoring this post. Don’t worry – I really love this stuff and wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t.
Several months ago the worst thing I’ve ever heard my 2 year old daughter say came out of her mouth. Tripp was on his play mat while Maddie Grace was coloring, so I went ahead and put on Mickey Mouse, sat down and worked on the computer for a while. I lost track of time and she walked up to me, touched my leg, and said “Mommy I miss you. Come play.” And I swear my heart broke right then and there. I was right there next to my kids, but I wasn’t there. I wasn’t being the mom they needed. These early years fly by, they really do. And every day my kids grow up a little and learn something new or do something differently. Maddie Grace now engages in full conversations, while Tripp is crawling around, pulling up, and doesn’t ever snuggle when he sleeps anymore. Where does the time go? Ever since that day that Maddie Grace spoke those words that changed my life (seriously) I’ve been on a mission to be more alert as a mom. And here’s what I’ve found that works for me.
(1) Have energy. As most moms (especially moms of more than 1 child) know, sleep is a rare and precious thing. Sure every mom should try to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen. Lots of nights once I finally get both kids to sleep it is then my time to actually work so I’m lucky to get 5-6 hours of sleep. That’s why I look towards other sources of energy. My favorite is Hyland’s Good Morning. This is a natural, caffeine-free alertness aid that will help mamas (and anyone lacking sleep) regain the day! It’s a safe way to deal with the mental and emotional consequences of not getting enough sleep and it has done wonders for me to have the energy to keep up with my kids throughout the day and stay more alert with them instead of zoning out from drowsiness.
(2) Be an active participant with your child. Whether it’s acting out a character from a book, having a dance party, or playing a game of hide n’ seek. Independent play is great for kids but so is seeing their parents get silly and have fun with them. Instead of sitting back and watching my kids when I get involved I find myself enjoying the time, seeing them light up, and making this time with them matter.
(3) Put away your electronics. Yep, this one was hard for me. In fact it took Maddie Grace starting to close my computer (saying “shut the door”) and taking away my phone from me to get the picture. She was growing up knowing a mom who was always buried behind a computer or her phone and that is not how I want her to remember me. When I’m texting or emailing I’m not actually spending time with my children, and the only solution to this for me is putting them away and having set hours for computer and phone time.
(4) Hold conversations with your kids. Even at 2 years old children respond to being asked questions. So go for it! I like to ask Maddie Grace what she’s enjoyed doing today, what she would like to do today, and how she’s feeling. Sometimes this leads to a little conversation between us, and sometimes she just makes animal noises back. But the more we talk the more I feel like I really get to know this little person of mine!
(5) Let them help you. Sometimes moms can’t devote 100% of attention to their kids when they’re together. Of course, we all have other things going on. But I’m amazed by how much my daughter can really help with at just 2 years old. She will help me load the laundry, pick up toys, make recipes, put on makeup (eek), and pretty much anything I’m doing she will want to help with so I let her as much as is safely possible. It’s a great way to bond and spend time together while still getting chores done!
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How do you stay present during the time you spend with your children?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hyland’s Good Morning. Regardless all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is such a good post. I don’t have children yet but I’m hoping to one day and I want to be a present mom. I have a hard time putting my phone down now but I hope when I have my kids I’ll be able to play with them and not my phone all the time.
I’ve never tried these but I love Hyland’s. Thank you for the helpful tips. I struggle with this everyday <3
I need to work on being more present with my kids. I do all my oldest to help me with dinner. He enjoys the little one on one time.
These are all great ideas!
Loved this post, very helpful reminders. Sometimes it is so difficult to reach a happy balance between work and family, especially when home is also your workplace.
Out of the mouths of babes, right? That has happened to me more times than I would like to admit. I am making more of an effort lately to be present when my children are awake. It can be hard feeling like you are pulled in too many directions, but our children should know they come before our work.
Great tips! I can sometimes be in the living room right next to my kids but not really with them because I’m doing something else. No electronics and just simply having conversations with my children makes our bond even stronger. Kids grow so fast that we as moms need to be present more! Thanks Claire 🙂