Be Present

Have you ever been somewhere and stopped to watch how a family interacts? The parents are usually on their phones and the kids are playing games on their iPads. They are not talking or interacting with each other. My family has definitely been guilty of this. My kids remind me every day that I need to be more present. To stop whatever it is I’m doing and play with them, read to them, do yoga with them, to just be in the moment with them.

Sometimes, we get caught up in checking our Facebook feed, checking and sorting emails, or watching that favorite show we recorded weeks ago but haven’t had time to watch. But what is more important than being present with our kids? Time goes by so quickly and they grow up so fast and if we don’t stay present we are going to miss out on so much. I found myself telling my kids that I just need a little more time to wrap up what I was doing. When I stopped to think about it, I felt like a horrible parent because it can wait and they shouldn’t have to.

I don’t want to miss out on the little things or the big things so I have promised myself and them that I will be present. As I write this we are stuck in our hotel room because it is pouring rain outside and we couldn’t be happier. We are playing board games, talking, and just being present in the moment together as a family. I hope that you will be present too!

"Wherever you are, be all there." -Jim Elliot