SUCCESS IS BEING IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFESTYLE AND CREATING SOMETHING YOUR’E PROUD OF, SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
TROYE SIVAN
In our stressed lives where both parents are working, demands at the work place takes a great toll on the personal and social lives of both the parents. Mothers especially go through guilt pangs of not giving quality and quantity time to their children. The amount of time parents dedicate to children is reducing day by day. Parents who are able to raise well balanced children while also maintaining a career have to make plenty of sacrifices.
It is not necessary that stay-at-home mothers give quality time to their children. In today’s time many mothers have plenty of social commitments and children do remain neglected.
Achieving a balance between work and children does not necessarily mean the time has to be split evenly. There will be times when the family will need more attention and times when work will demand it. Do not try to divide the time equally, simply remain flexible. Then check where you need to devote your attention.
A mother who successfully manages both her career and her children provides a role model for her child. In most families with working mothers, each person plays a more active role in the household. The children tend to look after one another and help in other ways. The father too helps in house-hold chores and in looking after the children.
It is always thought that a “good mother” is one who gives up her work to stay home with her children. However, no research says children are harmed when their mothers work. A child’s development is influenced more by the emotional health of the family and how the family feels about the mother working.
A child who is emotionally well adjusted, well loved, and well cared for will thrive regardless of whether the mother works outside the home.
It is extremely important to give quality time to children so as to make them responsible, contended and confident adults and make them feel loved and secured. These positive outcomes are most likely when the working mother feels valued and supported by family and friends.
There are many ways in which you can spend quality time with your children.
For e.g.
- When you go shopping to buy your groceries/vegetables, take your child with you and encourage your child to be a part of it. Besides being with you he learns the concept of buying and selling.
- Make him/her a part of your house-hold chores once you are home. Ask them to lay the dinner table as well as clear it. Be a part of his post-dinner activities like reading a book/helping in home-work/doing a crossword etc.
- Go for a movie with your child, especially the one that he/she wants to see. This time spent alone with you will mean a lot to your child.
- All children today love to be on the iPad. Spend time with your child while he/she are playing on it. Encourage him/her to play educational games. Also encourage him/her to play board games. Make the family a part of it.
- Keep a time slot, wherein you switch off your mobile and have a good talking session with your child.
- Take him/her for a drive probably to have an ice-cream after dinner probably on a weekend.
- Ensure that at dinner time the entire family is present on the table with the mobiles and T.V switched off. During dinner have a good talk with your child and encourage him/her to tell you how he/she spent the entire day.
Remember parents, that the more involved you are in all aspects of your child’s life, even when you are not physically with your child, the closer you will feel and the more effective you will be as parents.