Do you feel like you spend most of your life in a hurry, rushing around in a blur of stress, snapping at your kids – only to regret it later?

Do you ever resent your kids because they are getting in the way of your “to-do” list, then feel guilty for even thinking such a thing?

Would you love to be able to slow down, deepen your relationships, make memories, and enjoy parenting again?

It’s super hard to deepen our relationships, make memories, and enjoy parenting when we are always in a hurry.

But, let’s face it, being “in a hurry” is a reality of life for most of us. We don’t have the option of not getting dinner on the table, not educating our children, not getting to that doctor’s appointment.

How can we make sure that we are prioritizing our relationships with our kids, even in the midst of busyness?

Between soccer practice, work projects, math homework, and 13 loads of laundry, how can we show our kids that we truly love them?

How can we make memories with our kids? Parent in such a way that we won’t look back  with regrets?

Six Ways to Deepen Your Relationships, Make Memories, and Start Enjoying Parenting Again.

1. Work – Together

While you may not think of “chores” as a way to build relationships with your kids, it absolutely is!

Doing chores together with your child allows you to slow down, talk, and listen to your child while working beside them. At the same time, you are teaching your child essential life skills and enlisting their help in the work so that later on you can spend some time doing something fun together.

That’s a win-win for both you and your children, right? (No matter how much your kids may gripe at the outset!)

So, don’t feel guilty about asking your kids to do chores. Don’t cave into their complaining. Hold your ground, work beside them, and interact with them while you work.

That’s what MY MOTHER did for me, and I am willing to bet that’s what YOUR MOTHER did for you, too!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Wash and dry dishes together
• Make a meal together
• Work on a bigger project together from design to completion (example: outdoor landscaping, bedroom re-decorating)
• Volunteer together
• Exercise together

2. Learn Something New – Together

When we slow down to learn something together with our kids, we can help our kids develop a new skill in their areas of strength and interest. We can also teach our kids how to learn new things, even when its hard.

Would your child love to learn how to draw better? Buy some supplies and work through a book together. How about crocheting? Has your child expressed interest in learning to play a musical instrument or speak a foreign language? How about swim lessons or tennis lessons? Would your child love to learn a new sport? Learn it with him by volunteering as a team parent or assistant coach.

Set some time aside each week to learn a new skill together!

3. Play – Together

OK, can I admit something here? I’ve never been very good at playing. But, playing and having fun with our kids is so important! It’s something that I need to stretch myself in… and maybe you do too!

Here are some ideas:

• Start a nerf gun war
• Play a board game
• Make a craft – and play with your creations afterwards!
• Start a pillow fight or a tickle fight
• Run in the sprinklers or throw water balloons
• Blow up some balloons – and see what games you can come up with

4. Write Letters

Letters and notes are such a great way for us to build relationships with our kids. They can give us room to express what we are truly feeling, to say things that we might have a hard time saying out loud. Letters and notes will also be treasured keepsakes for many years.

Here are some ideas:

• Surprise your child with a letter under her pillow or slipped into her lunch box
• Leave a letter for your teen taped to the driver’s wheel in his car
• Purchase inexpensive craft mailboxes – and exchange letters back and forth with your kids frequently
• Leave letters addressed to your kids in unexpected places from imaginary friends – little people who live in your home or stuffed animals. Encourage your kids to write back.
• Start a journal that you can write back and forth in. Share your favorite memories, activities you would like to do together, etc.

5. Go On an Adventure Together

Plan to do something crazy and completely out of the ordinary with your kid! Anything new can be turned into an adventure, so this doesn’t have to be expensive.

Here are some ideas:

• Visit a new library
• Explore a park you have never been to before
• Get out of your comfort zone to serve others (volunteer at a homeless shelter or take cookies to strangers in the hospital)
• Try out a zip line or climbing wall
• Go canoeing
• Sign up for a Mud Run
• Visit a water park
• Read an adventure story together

6. Challenge Your Kids to Grow Spiritually

The greatest thing we can possibly do to reach the hearts of our kids is to intentionally introduce them to the Creator God Who loves them even more than we ever could!

Are you challenging your kids to read the Bible and to get to know God better?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Set aside ten minutes a day, four times a week (or more!), to read the Bible together
• Challenge each other to memorize verses
• Pray together
• Talk about spiritual things – what God is teaching you, what faith lived out really looks like, what you do when you struggle with doubts or sins
• Look for a Bible study that will challenge you and your child, then complete it together (Not sure where to get started? Try this FREE Bible study!)

Now it’s your turn. How will you intentionally slow down, deepen your relationships, make memories, and start enjoying parenting this week? I would love to hear your plans and ideas. Please scroll down to comment.

May God bless you!