Take time to love your child
Why would I say it takes time to love a child? Simply put, our children need our TIME.Robert J. Keeshan, broadcaster to children as Captain Kangaroo, tells how it can happen:
“A small child waits, thumb in mouth, doll in hand, with some impatience, the arrival home of a parent. She wishes to relate some small sandbox experience. She is excited to share the thrill she has known that day. The time comes, the parent arrives. Beaten down by the stresses of the workplace the parent so often says to the child, ‘Not now, honey. I’m busy, go watch television.’ The most often spoken words in many American households, ‘I’m busy, go watch television.’ If not now, when? ‘Later.’ But later rarely comes . . .
“Years go by and the child grows. We give her toys and clothes. We give her designer clothes and a stereo but we do not give her what she wants most, our time. She’s fourteen, her eyes are glassy, she’s into something. ‘Honey, what’s happening? Talk to me, talk to me.’ Too late. Too late. Love has passed us by. . . .
“When we say to a child, ‘Not now, later.’ When we say, 'Go watch TV.’ When we say, ‘Don’t ask so many questions.’ When we fail to give our young people the one thing they require of us, our time. When we fail to love a child. We are not uncaring. We are simply too busy to love a child"
Isn't that interesting? I love my children, but how many times have I been just beaten down and popped out with that phrase? More then I care to admit.
It takes more then putting food in our child's mouth or clothes on their back, it is taking the time to fill their hearts with love. When I had my first son, my mother gave me the best advice I have ever received... She said "The best gift you can give your child is a good example." Never did I realize how true those words would be, I am my child's role model, what is he learning from me?
At some moments the overwhelming responsibility given to me to raise my children in a worthy manner weighs heavily on my mind.. as it should.
To be successful in anything in life requires effort, you get out of life what you put into it, the same can be said about our children, what you put into them is what you will get out of them.
I believe I could not ask for more then the two boys I was entrusted with, what could I better do with my time? Nope, nothing comes to mind!