“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” -Simone Weil
We live in a time where there are so many distractions, so many to-do lists, and so many competing interests with the present moment. We find ourselves thinking of other things or scrolling social media instead of slowing down and focusing on our children. We look back and wonder how time went by so fast, and wish we would have paid more attention to little moments. If only we could slow down their childhood.
The truth is that with focused attention, we can live a slower paced life with our children. We can expand upon the ordinary, yet precious moments, we get to spend with them as they grow up. By staying present with our kids, and by giving them our full attention more often, we can “slow down” and savor their childhoods. We can’t change time, but we can change the way we perceive it.
Here are some practical ways to put this into practice:
- Put down your phone and be present. While you’re playing with them, be intentional about being present. Interact with them, ask them questions, play and be silly!
- Allow yourself to play. You were a kid once, and somewhere inside of you still lives that kid! Connect to your inner child in order to better connect with your children.
- Ask them open-ended questions that matter. What do they like and don’t like? What was something special about their day? Asking open-ended questions, rather than yes or no questions, help kids open up and share things you may not have known otherwise.
- Let them take things at their own pace. It’s okay if your child takes things at their own pace. The world has a way of rushing the process of growing up. Let them be little. Let them get messy and have fun. In time, they will get there!
- Be intentional about your time and their time. We have a tendency to overbook our time and our kids’ time, rushing from one activity to the next. Cut down on the unnecessary and let your kids have more time to free play in the quiet space of home or nature.
- Take it one day at a time. We all get caught up thinking about the future-living for the next thing. Try to take it day by day. Enjoy each day you are given, and teach your children to do the same.
It feels like time is a thief, constantly pulling us toward the next thing. If we can learn to allow ourselves to be more present and intentional with our time, we can hopefully savor our kids’ childhoods and enjoy the moments more fully. We can learn to flow with time like a river, rather than like a rushing current.
Enjoy these magical moments of childhood, little by little.
How do you savor this special time of life with your children? Comment below.
