Children are a blessing and our heritage from the Lord. Those precious little ones, and big ones, want us to be engaged with them and pay attention to them throughout the day – because hey, you are wonderful!
I have always searched for ways to stay engaged with my kids as I learned that building relationship with them is so very important.
As a stay at home working mom you are in a unique position to seek out ways to work as needed, yet engage when able – the best of both worlds. A true blessing.
Here’s a little game my kids used to love to play that I hope will become an engagement maker in your work at home days. Have your kids make ten signs, (preferably index card size so they will be small) numbered 1 through 10 on both sides. As you are working have your children in your line of sight and your index cards in arms reach. Announce to your kids that “as” you are working you will call out the name of an animal and then they must act out that animal.
As you continue to work, based on how well they are doing, you will hold up a sign letting them know how you “judge” them on their acting out of that animal.
I know it sounds really simple, but my kids used to do this for very LONG periods of time and it allowed me to be engaged enough to participate, but also allowed me to easily multi-task. It was cute at times the lengths they would go to in an effort to get me to give them a higher number. Sometimes they would ask to “try again” and the revelry ramped up.
At any rate, great memories were made and we managed to have some serious fun!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tracey Eyster is dedicated to helping other mom’s realize that…every MOMent counts! Her trademark enthusiasm, encouragement and “get it done with a smile” attitude has afforded her opportunities for speaking, volunteerism and travel throughout the United States and abroad. She is the creator/editor of MomLife Today.com where she has gathered a diverse group of moms who are as fervent as she is about equipping others to thrive in their daily momlife. Tracey is passionate about sharing momlife experiences and strategies through her video interviews and writing where she is featured on several on-line communities. You can connect with her at BeTheMom.com. She and her husband Bill live with their teens Samara and Westley on a ranchette in rural Arkansas.