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This Article is From Our December 2007 Advice & Tips:

Holidays, A Chance To Spend Time with Our Kids

As we just celebrated National Family Week, along with Thanksgiving, it gives us a chance to reflect and renew our commitment to our families. As the Christmas Holidays follow, let us look at things a little different this year.

Our children grow up way too quickly, usually before most of us are ready. Their focus will shift and we will no longer be the center of their attention. In fact, in all too short a time, they will be out the door and on their own.

As parents we need to take this opportunity and recommit to our children. We don’t need to look at the Holidays as a burden, but instead of a great shining light leading us back to our families. I challenge each parent to take a look back over the past year and write down all the special times you had with your kids. Cherish what you have and look forward to 2008 as an involved parent. If your list is way to short, I encourage you to change how you look at things. It’s not too late make a commitment over Christmas to spend more time with your family and make special memories with your kids.

The commitment won’t hurt, actually you’ll feel better and things will get better with your kids. As a single father myself, finding time is very difficult, sometimes you have to schedule time. Life is full of stress and pressures, it’s very hard.

I have a little secret to share with you. We always stress out trying to find time for our children and families. In fact there is always other things we want to do or feel like we have to do. Then we try to find an outlet for our stress. Playing with our kids is one of the greatest stress relievers known to man. You can actually, relief stress, by dusting off your childhood and letting the little child within out to play with your own kids.

I teach a lot in the jail and when I ask the inmates what could have made a difference in their life growing up. The number one answer was having someone telling them that they love them and believes in them. Find time this year for your kids, it’s the greatest investment you’ll ever make.



Dave Baker
Nurturing Father’s National Consultant

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