Reminding Ourselves What Is Important

Do we really need to be reminded to stay connected with the people we love? I guess so since we have been inundated with commercials from Values.com telling us to take time to talk to our husbands and wives and call our children when we are away on a business trip. While the commercials are sweet, what has become of our society when we have to be reminded to do these things; or worse yet, being guilted into believing we are bad people because we may need an occasional reminder to remember what is important in our lives?

In today’s world, there are many households where both parents find themselves having to work to make ends meet. It is not really surprising that many times it is our family who gets the short end of the stick. Everyone gets a piece of us except those who are nearest and dearest. By the time we get home and get dinner and homework out of the way, most of us find it a win when we can carve out thirty minutes to spend time with those we love. But after all, it’s quality over quantity, right? According to Today Parents it is. Now they tell me!

I have spent more guilty moments wondering how I was failing my children because I had to work than I have spent actually working. Had I worked at Bordas & Bordas back then, I wouldn’t have had to miss out on all the school plays and field trips with my children since they recognize how important these events are in our lives. Unfortunately, that was not the case, so I spent a lot of time feeling like a failure for missing out on those things and envious of the stay-at-home moms that could, it seemed, do it all. Now, I find out that the quality time that I did spend with my children was more than enough to make them successful adults. And as they say, the proof is in the pudding. All of my children are terrific people and great parents. I guess I can finally give myself a break.

So I say to all the working parents out there, cut yourselves some slack and give your family the quality time they deserve instead of worrying so much about quantity. While I do believe in “being there” for my family and to “pass it on” to those that might need a nudge to remember what is important, as the Values.com commercial stresses, most of us don’t really need a reminder to do these things. We have been doing them all along.