More and more today we talk about TIME, the one that is not enough, whether it is for family, child, work, friendships, activities that fulfill our soul. We live in a century of speed where we hardly manage to connect with ourselves, let alone our children.
"Time doesn't pass faster than it used to, only we pass it faster" (George Orwell) and we forget to enjoy, stop in the present moment and live here and now in the authentic sense.
When was the last time you stopped and enjoyed the smell of the blossoming lime tree, the clear sky, the chirping of birds or the taste of a cup of tea? Today might be a good time to do that, to stop and smile at TIME!
When you, the parent, will be the one who stops time in place to obtain small joys, your child will take over from your behavior, from your relaxed attitude and the joy of the present time. He himself will know how to value and value time.
As I mentioned in the previous article about attachment, the child needs your presence more than ever in the first years of life, affection and active involvement with him, to offer that quality time, which is always talked about . The time spent with him will create strong connections, a better understanding of his needs, a way in which we assure him of our full involvement by offering him physical and emotional support whenever he needs it.
And yet how can we offer this time when our daily tasks occupy us more than we would like?
A first step in organizing and managing time is establishing weekly routines and actively involving all family members. Whether it's about household activities that you undertake together, or whether we're talking about creative activities that you'll also take part in.
Be present with the child at least at one of the meals, ask for his help and involvement in preparing it according to age, play interactive games that require him physically and intellectually, such as walking in the park by bike, rollerblading, skating, board games, dances , where you are also part of the same activity and not just a spectator. Together with the child you will relive the moments of childhood and at the end of the day you will see the benefits of such activities and to the same extent you will realize how much you need this breath of air, TIME.
Another important aspect, when there are several children in the family, is to give individual time to each of them. Just as you, the adult, want and need your time with your life partner, with a friend, parent, in the same way your child needs his time with you. This will help him not to compete with the other siblings and he will know that he has his own time with you, where he enjoys your full attention and involvement, now there is no need to share you, it is YOU with HIM.
And yet… there is still TIME!
Psychologist Carmen Mariana Ardeleanu
