Monday Motivation: How I lost 10 minutes and found the true meaning of time

We all know how hard it is to find 10 minutes with our kids every day, to focus on being a kid again, to focus on just being. A few nights ago, Liv was in bed waiting for me to “do story time.” I had just one more itty bitty email to answer. “I’ll be there in two minutes,” I yelled to her from my den. Finished in eight minutes, I was so proud of myself. “Boy, am I efficient,” I thought, practically patting myself on the back. I ran into Liv’s room with our new library book in hand ready for a fantastic story time.  And – drum roll please -- I heard snoring. Granted,  it was light snoring, but snoring nonetheless. Liv was sleeping.  I was devastated. I know: tired moms and dads everywhere are wondering why.  Isn’t a soundly sleeping child what we all aspire to nightly or hourly (depending on our child’s age)?  But I had missed out on something big. I realized story time was at least as important to me as it was to her – or even more so. For me it’s a time to relax, turn off the smart phone and give my undivided attention to my little girl. In turn, I have her undivided attention, a real treat in this age of electronic devices and kids’ crowded schedules. It’s our time to talk, laugh and cuddle. Now, I had to wait a full 24 hours for that chance to come around again. I was somewhat baffled by my own level of disappointment. “No big deal,” I thought as I tried to console myself. “Now I can watch TV, do my nails or (gasp) talk to my husband in full sentences.”  Instead, I just went to bed.
Let’s keep in mind that there are only a finite number of “story times” left for us. Before we know it, open doors and our children’s anticipating arms will be replaced by closed doors and “Do Not Enter” signs. Of course, we will continue our communication with our children as they grow older – but in very different ways.
So if I could leave you with one thing today, it’d be this: Don’t let anything come between you and those daily 10 minutes of uninterrupted, beautiful, and timeless time with your child.