The holidays are fast approaching, and many children will be forced to spend time with more than one family. Visitation time can be a very hard time for children and parents alike. Will you be the parent that wants the most and best time with the child? Meaning you want Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Or will you be the parent that simply values your time with the child?
Many parents want to be the first, the first to have Thanksgiving dinner, the first to celebrate Christmas, and the first to celebrate any holiday in general. Some parents (I think there are fewer of these parents) are just happy to spend good quality time with their children. Most parents fall into these two categories. My mom always wanted to be the first. Today I am almost 37 years old, and she still wants to be the first with my kids. While she is busy wanting to be the first, my dad is making sure that every minute counts.
So maybe mom gets Thanksgiving Day, but when we get to my dad’s on the day after Thanksgiving, it is just as great and many times better. Why is it better? The atmosphere! My dad will ask (and care) about how the day went at mom’s. He will play games and take the kids for tractor rides. It doesn’t matter how cold or muddy, if the kids want a tractor ride, there is always a tractor ride. Every time my kids see my dad, it is a special day. It has always been like that with him. When I was younger, before I had kids, I would always enjoy dad’s house more. At mom’s house, we sat and really did nothing.
So the lesson in this is that no matter what time you get with your kids, make it special. Life is short, and you never know when your time will come. Make every moment count! Choose to be the parent that values the time with the children no matter when that time is. Don’t sweat the little things in life. Just enjoy your children and/or grand children whenever you can.