Having a child while being a working woman means you have a very hectic daily life. Between work and staying on top of household chores, you may feel like you don’t have much time to be an attentive mom.
But there is the good news: you don’t have to plan big to develop a healthy, close relationship with your children. Big gestures can be fun, but they lack the consistent attention provided by smaller gestures on the daily. By adjusting some of your routines, you can get in the habit of connecting with your kids each day.
Quality Time Starts with the Little Things
In your busy schedule, you don’t necessarily need to carve out hours to attend to your children. Even everyday chores and routines present great opportunities to spend quality time together.
Mealtime bonding is a great way of knowing what’s going on in your children’s lives. When you’re eating together, ask your children about their day and really listen to their responses. Don’t use your screen during mealtime, either. If possible – engage them in meal preparation. Every child can be useful at contributing in some way, such as adding an ingredient to the cooking pot or preparing a table. (For bonus quality time, consider letting them help with age-appropriate cleanup, too.)
If both parents work, mornings and bedtime can be stressful but they serve as excellent opportunities to bond with your child. Begin your day with a friendly greeting, a hug, or any activity such as choosing clothes for the day. Reading them a bedtime story at night or a few words of conversation before sleep can also help your child feel safe and supported.
Not only that, but running errands together like going to the supermarket or going shopping can be regarded as quality time. Letting your child participate in picking out groceries can turn everyday trips into fun adventures. Listening to music while in the car, playing games like “I Spy,” or allowing them to help you check items off a shopping list are just some easy ways to bring some extra fun into these routine outings.
Making Playdates and Outings More Special
Both parents and children need to socialize with others. Luckily, short yet purposeful gatherings with other kids don’t require elaborate planning to create meaningful social bonds.
A brunch playdate provides essential social opportunities so you can connect with other parents while kids enjoy a playful meal. You can get your kid involved in the prep too and put together a yummy frittata, fruit salad, or veggie platter for everyone to snack on.
Outdoor activity combined with fresh air improves everyone’s mood. Organize activities like park visits and nature walks. To kick things up a notch, play tag, collect leaves, or try birdwatching — this makes a fairly normal activity like a walk transform into a wonderful memory for the whole family.
Hosting a playdate at home is another great idea. Simply setups like building a pillow fort, arts and crafts, and baking can go a long way in having fun, as well as bonding. You should maintain a relaxed environment that lets children guide the activities.
Creative Ways to Strengthen Your Bond
If you’re willing to think outside of the box, there are a few different, fun things you can try to build up your bond:
“Mommy and Me” Traditions
Establishing minor family customs gives special meaning to ordinary daily activities. Introduce basic weekly routines with activities like Friday night movie night, weekend baking preparation, or Saturday crafts. Your kid will anticipate these scheduled activities because they’re fun and help build your relationship steadily.
Music and Movement
Never underestimate the power of a dance party! Let your child’s love for music guide you while you get moving in the living room or kitchen. Don’t limit the fun to your house, either. Singing along to music in the car combined with dancing while doing errands makes daily activities fun, creating shared laughter.
Letting Them Lead
When looking for ways to connect, let your child take the lead from time to time. Whether they’re interested in learning about dinosaurs or pretending to be a princess, they’ll appreciate getting to pick the activity or theme of the day.
One-on-One Outings
Simple one-on-out outings can be a powerful way to deepen your relationship. It’s a special time dedicated to only you and your child. Getting hot chocolate at a café, visiting a library together, and taking short walks help foster an important connection that needs minimal planning.
Prioritizing Connection in a Busy Life
Daily obligations together with work duties can you people from living in the present moment. But there are a few ways to prioritize family time, despite the other pressures begging for your attention. Here’s what you can try:
- Putting the phone down: Quickly checking your phone detracts from the magic of the small moments and distracts from what’s going on right in front of you. Choose specific times during which you will detach from devices so you can provide your children with undivided attention.
- Setting work boundaries: Don’t let work take over family time. Establish specific periods when you exclusively focus on your children to help create stability in your schedule. And when you’re with your family, actually be with your family instead of worrying about work.
- Making household tasks fun: Turn household duties into bonding opportunities by making them interactive activities. This can help you and your children view boring tasks in a completely different light because of the fun you have together — plus, you can get dinner on the table or catch up on laundry that much faster.
- Quality over quantity: Giving your child undivided time and attention, even if it’s for a short time, matters more than the duration of time you spend together. There should be a specific time of the day dedicated to being fully present and responsive to your child and their needs.
Conclusion
Being a mother can be overwhelming, but bonding with your child doesn’t need to be. Some of the most powerful bonds develop between parents and children when they spend time doing everyday activities together. Those ordinary moments throughout the journey are what your children will treasure most in life so dedicate yourself to making as many memories as possible.
