Random Thoughts

Here's a nice article I came across for the working Moms out there!

5 Tips on Being a Hands-On Mom Even When You're Working by Mariel Uyquiengco

Working moms usually suffer from guilty feelings, and it’s mostly because we are unable to spend enough time with our kids. The daily grind takes too much of our time and energy, and frankly, we don’t have a lot of ourselves left at the end of the day.

Most of us want to be hands-on parents. Juggling work and family, however, is never easy. Being hands-on with our little ones’ development seems to just be a pipe dream that only few with superpowers can accomplish.

While the stay-at-home moms, and even the work-at-home moms, do have a bit of an edge over those working outside the home in terms of time spent with the kids, working moms can still be hands-on parents. After all, if you can’t give quantity, you can always give quality.

Here are 5 tips on how you can be a hands-on mom even when you have a busy career. And no, this list doesn’t include tutoring your kids.

1. Read aloud everyday

There’s nothing as simple and as fulfilling as spending time reading to one’s child. Reading has all the right ingredients for perfect bonding moments: cuddles, entertainment, and lessons (if you can squeeze it in). Children’s books author Rosemary Wells advises parents to read to their children at least 20 minutes a day that will give them 20 minutes of fun and memories.

2. Eat together at least once a day

Eating together as a family allows everyone to catch up with each other in these busy, busy times. Try to have breakfast together, before rushing off to work and school, or maybe dinner if everyone can be home early enough.

3. Do something together during weekends

Weekends are for family time! While it’s perfectly nice to stay in bed together for Saturday and Sunday, try getting up and doing something! Go to a parent and child class (art, music, etc.) or wander around museums and parks. Being unplugged helps a lot too, as you can really focus on what your child is saying and doing.

4. Expand what he’s learning in school

Make it a point to know what exactly your child is learning in school. This is not to check on him, but to make an opportunity for you to be part of his informal education. Take a look at what he’s taking up in school and do activities or go to places related to it. You’ll be helping him learn more through hands-on learning, and isn’t that such a nice role to have?

5. Plan and prepare afterschool activities

Not there when your child comes home from school? Prepare some activities for him to choose from – games, art materials, books, music. If you have a young child with a nanny, they can even do the activities together even if you’re not there.

Working long hours and hands-on parenting may not seem to go hand in hand. But spending time to think of how your presence can still be palpably felt by your child is worth the effort.