The stuff that dreams are made of

What are your dreams for your family? If you are like many parents, you want children that are healthy in mind, body and spirit. There are all kinds of paths available to help you achieve that dream. If you listen to all the advice that is out there you could soon be overwhelmed with ideas of what to do and what not to do to help your children get and stay healthy. For instance:
(1)  Exercise your body (for many that means separate gyms for Mom and Dad and a multitude of extra curricular activities for their children).
(2)  Exercise your mind (for many that means hours of reading, music lessons, flash cards, tutoring, visits to museums, art galleries, or concerts).
(3)  Exercise your spirit (for many that means faith based activities, contributing to your community, or volunteering to help others).

One parenting strategy that is often left out of recommendations to achieve your dream for your family is family time. Children, from the very beginning of their lives, need reassurance from their parents that they will always be there for them, they will always love them no matter how many errors in judgment they might experience, and they will be taught how to love and how to be loved. We assume our children know these things, just as our parents assumed we knew these things- sometimes regardless of what behaviors our children observe in us or what we observed in our parents.

When our children spend more time with others than they do with their parents, it is difficult to offer the reassurance they need. The stuff that dreams are made of - the feelings children get when:
(1)  Sitting on Mom or Dad's lap reading a book.
(2)  Going for bike rides, jogs around the block or on the school track with Mom or Dad.
(3)  Walking through the neighborhood or park (if it is safe to do so) identifying rocks, trees, birds with Mom or Dad or both.
(4)  Sitting beside Mom or Dad while practicing their instrument, and having both parents at recitals.
(5)  Participating in meal preparation and clean up (not in place of Mom or Dad but with guidance, including discussions about healthy eating habits).
(6)  Taking the family dog for a walk every evening with Mom or Dad or helping Mom and Dad feed, bathe and obtain good health care for the family pet.
(7)  Participating along side Mom or Dad in the plan for family vacations or outings.
(8)  Washing the family car(s) together. Even the smallest children can take a sponge to the tires.
(9)  Budgeting - children don't need to know how much money their parents make, but they benefit from knowing how much is available each month for extra activities, clothes, or entertainment. (This could be a blog all by itself.)
(10) Bedtime routines include one to one parenting time with lots of hugs, "I love you's" or "Tell me about your day."

If the stuff your dreams are made of includes children that are healthy in mind, body and spirit make the time to spend with them, to teach them, to love them. Nothing contributes to your children's healthy self image more than the knowledge that their parents are never too busy to invest their time, energy and love. That is one investment you are not likely to regret because the payoff is priceless.