Quality Time

QUALITY TIME

In todays fast paced life, the females are on our toes from morning to night. Especially if you are working, you have to shoulder all the responsibilities of managing the home, kitchen, children, their homeworks etc. The burden becomes additional during the exam times. Here are some practical ways in which you can take out some quality time for yourself and your family, despite your busy schedule.

Mrs. Pillai is a busy mother of two children aged 15 and 10. Despite her work schedule, she tries to be available for her family whenever they need her. She's up and in the kitchen by 5:00 am, preparing lunch for the family. The school van comes around 8 a.m. She wakes them up at 6.30 am and the children are ready by 7:45 a.m. She makes sure that the children do some morning prayer, let it be for 2 to 5 minutes, but it does prepare the children for the day ahead in a positive manner. She herself leaves at 8:30 am. Nowadays it is increasingly common for both parents to work. We remember as children most of us spent adequate time with parents or grand parents. Here's how you can ensure your children don't lose out on this time with family.

Husband’s support in household work
If you and your husband are both working, it is fair that he should help out at home as well - and this means he can set the uniforms in the morning, be with the children , make sure that they take the breakfast properly while you are in the kitchen. If you cook, let him clean, if you put the clothes for a wash, he can remove them from the machine. Let him iron his share of clothes if you are not giving them outside. This will leave you with more free time to spend with the children. It is also healthy for your children to watch both parents helping out at home. Involve the children in work around the house. In case your husband is not willing to share the responsibility, don't take all the responsibility instead get household help.
Morning time
Morning times are rushed in most households. Do take out few minutes to cuddle them while waking up, this will ensure a special bonding between you and your children. Play a spiritual CD in order to make the atmosphere slightly holistic. Remember , if your family has a positive environment, it is very unlikely that your children will go to the wrong path in life. Try to be around your children for breakfast, normally this time children have few things to tell you about school, friends, which they had forgotton to tell you the previous day as you were away at your workplace.
Lunch time
If you are a working mother, try and organise someone to cook for the family, instead of cooking all the meals. Alternatively, find out if you can organise someone to send a 'tiffin' over to your husband's office or child's school. Do your research to ensure the meal is healthy and without much oil. This way you can still cook on weekends and cook dinners if you enjoy cooking. At least lunch is taken care of and mornings will leave you with more time to spend with your family or to rest.
Dinner time
Make it a point that all the members of family have the dinner together and don't serve the family. Instead, let everyone help themselves so you can then sit down to eat together . Do not switch on the T.V at this time, as this will hamper the interaction between the family members or you can play the games like scrabble, mind puzzles with the children after the dinner for some time.
Prayer time Inculcate the habit of spending five minutes before retiring to bed to thank God for all he has done. This will go a long way in bringing peace and harmony in your home, and instilling right values in your children.
Holiday time
Plan holidays well. Decide well in advance what you will be doing over the weekend. If you have a plan, you can spend the weekend well. If you don't have a plan, everyone will probably just do his or her own thing. Time is something we can never have enough of, so spend it wisely. Nothing compares to the strength you derive from the feeling being part of a warm, loving family.