My kids have all been yearning for alone time lately, just them and me. They have never verbally expressed this before and I am finding it hard to provide them with it. They are 4, 7 and 9. I do take one of them with me to the store or errands (a different one each time) when my husband is home but they mostly want me to sit and play with them one on one. Then of course someone gets jealous and they want to play the same thing (for instance playdough) so I would spend twice as long when we could have just played together in the first place. Which I guess I should just do it to give them the one on one time but it is hard because my days are busy. What are some things you all do to give your multiple children each their own quality time? Or do you just insist on together time? Do you have a specific system or schedule? TIA!
I have been struggling with this lately myself, I only have two - 5 & 6. I just have to remind myself that some of the stuff I am "busy" with is just not as important as time with my kids. For me scheduling time works better otherwise I keep putting it off until later - I think it depends upon your personality. Before we know it they won't want to spend time with us.
Whenever you have a spare hour, I would grab one kid, and head out the door. Go to the park, or grab a sundae, or whatever sounds fun at the moment. Then the next time you have a spare hour, grab the next kid and head out. Just cycle through them whenever you have the spare time. Maybe once you have gone through all the kids, (and a date night with hubby...) you could have a family outing, then start the cycle over. :)
We are having to start this with our 4 & 6 year olds. We only have 2, so my husband takes one on a "date" and I take the other. The next weekend we switch. Then we do an entire family activity.
You can't be so busy that you can't spend 45 minutes out of a whole day with one of your kids. Sorry, not buying it. If you really want the time, you'll find it. The mess you're finding so important to clean will be there in 45 minutes or even tomorrow. You set your own priorities.
Well i have 3 children.(3,5,6) I usually take one child with me to my dr's app. Then get them a snack afterwards. Usually its a 30 minute wait(depending on how busy they are) and I usually bring paper and pens and draw pictures or whatever with them while were in the waiting room.Or read books if they have any.
Usually some nights one will wake up and i'll put them in bed with me and cuddle with them.Or one will wake up and will sit on the couch and cuddle and watch tv with me.
MOSTLY we do take them all together some where. I take all 3 to the park together.or a store.
If one child is sick usually i pack that child in to their dr by themselves and hold and love them; giving them that one and one time.
There is ways to have one on one time without spending money or going anywhere.
I think children will always feel or be jealous no matter what. My kids can have the same toy and one will start crying saying there toy isn't the same as the others.
