four ways to be a Better Parent.

looking back on my childhood, the summer vacations to grandmothers home and over-the-top Diwali celebrations do stand out in my mind.It was small things –going for a shopping on a hot summer’s day, playing carom at the table, gathering over cut fruits and homemade ice-cream– that made me feel connected. It was the ordinary regular occurrences that made us feel like family.

When the toils of everyday life creep in, parents can get so bogged down in schedules that the relationship with their children can seem distanced and disconnected.Busy parents can build up and strengthen those connections by taking a few simple steps such as guiding your children through a bedtime, asking for their opinion, and actively observing your children without stepping in.

Now I’m raising my children . It’s during the moments when I put aside busyness to be present and attend  to the people in front of me – to laugh, to listen, to love – that the messages that matter reach their hearts. You are valued. You are loved. You belong here.

Here are four daily habits you can begin now to build connection:

1. Morning Blessing

Mornings can be a real hassle. Trying to get everyone up and out the door on time is often a stressful time for families. Our adult minds are focused on the dozens of things we must accomplish in the next 12 hours, and our children are often tired, grumpy, or preoccupied with their own thoughts on the day ahead. Taking two or three minutes of the morning to focus on our child’s face and say something positive can really have a big impact. “Good morning, my child! Seeing your sweet face makes me happy” is a thoughtful way to greet a child into their day. I think“Triple A to start the day.” That stands for attention, affection, and affirmation. Aim to give them your full attention for at least a couple of minutes, offer a hug or rub on the head, and say something positive about them. Making this a daily habit starts each day off on the right foot.

2. Afternoon or After School Gathering

Do the children get home from school and scatter in every direction? Mine tend to do that. Even if you home school or your children are still very young, creating an afternoon or after school gathering provides another connection point in your day. Some ideas for this gathering include tea time, a spread of fruits with dip or cheese and crackers, a round of snake and ladder, or reading aloud a story from their favorite book. Again, this is undistracted time spent with your loved ones and it only takes a few minutes of the afternoon. This can easily be adjusted to an after-dinner or before-bath gathering. The time on the clock is not important. It’s the time spent that matters.

3. A Meal at the Table

When my children were very little and my husband worked odd shifts, we never ate together. I would snack through the day, my kids would eat dinner in the playroom, and my husband just ate whenever he got home. So, I certainly understand that dinner at the table every single night is not suitable for all families. Perhaps an early morning breakfast together is more doable, or evens a late evening dessert-only meeting in the kitchen works best. Some researchers suggest that the benefits from family meals are many, including healthier eating for kids, improved psychological well-being, greater academic achievement, and even less delinquency !We don’t need studies to tell us that gathering together for conversation and good food is meaningful though, do we? If it’s not already on your priority list, it’s a great time to start this connection-building habit.

4. One-on-one Time at Bedtime

In my house, we call this “special time” and I am surprised by how much my children crave this individual attention because until very recently, I was with them all day, every day! I created this habit with the start of them attending school to build in some special time to hear about their days where they don’t have to talk over each other or be interrupted. I initially set it at 10 minutes per child but we often talk beyond that because children really do open up their hearts during this time. If they don’t have much to talk about, which is rare, I ask them three questions. “Tell me something good that happened today.” “Is there anything you’re worried about or want to ask?” “Tell me one of your dreams or goals in life.”

I know that by this time of night, most of us are ready to be done with the day. We might even develop a tendency to rush through the bedtime routine to get to that ever so elusive “me time.” Truly though, these few minutes spent connecting heart-to-heart with my kids is worth .