26 - Be there for your children . . . they are VIP's in your life!

Reason for this Goal:       If and when you decide to have children, be there for your children, as they are Very Important People in your life.  While everyone would agree that spending quality time with your children should be at the top of your priority list, this is often not the case.   Too much focus on growing your career or other priorities can often have a negative impact on your ability to be there for your children during the important times. 

Key ways to be there for your children!

To be there for your children, ensure that you are a parent who actively participates in your children's life  . . . 

1. Attend special school presentations or award ceremonies - You children crave your participation in all of their life events.
2. Meet your children’s teachers - Your children will take their schooling more importantly if they know you take an interest in meeting their teachers and understanding their curriculum
3. Read to your children - Reading to or with them before bed time and tuck them into bed is one of the most important times to bond with your children.  If you are like me, you may fall asleep reading to them, but that's no problem either.
4. Take them to their extracurriculars -  Attending their activities, games, sporting events, and performances is a great way to show that you care about them, as well as being a great opportunity to meet their friends and their friends parents.  Many long term relationships are started this way.
5. Have a family dinner with them  - At least 2–3 nights throughout the week, spend time together eating and discussing at the family table to develop strong family relationships that last.
6. Actively participate in their special days - It's easy to justify that it's okay to miss their  birthdays and other special occasions, but really this should be a last resort and avoided at all costs. 
7. Actively listen to their challenges -  Listening skills are at an all time low.  The art of actively listening to your children is a skill that needs to be worked on and developed to provide that comforting ear and assurance that you are actually listening to them.

Your children will be so much better off for having you actively present in their life.   Deciding that this is an important goal is the start.   Writing it down makes this a commitment that you’ll remember. 

Thinking about this every day will ensure that you look for the opportunities to be there for your children and present in your children’s lives, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too.

If your decision is to not have children, have this goal apply to another friend or family member.

Suggested Goal(s):    Spend 1 hour a day with your children, distraction free. 
Your Outrageous Goal:  Be present for every special moment in your children’s lives. 

 Return to family and friend goals.

---

Last updated: December 5, 2019