Dad's Home! by Brian Housman
-June 11, 2009-Comments (0)
In this month's issue of ParentLife, Brian Housman gave encouraging words to working dads about making time for family time.
Start by recalibrating your priorities. Try these helpful tips.
- Keep a family calendar. Just as you schedule a business lunch or board meeting, you need to schedule time with your family. If you have a work assistant, give her your family event so she can assure those times do not get double booked.
- Schedule extended reconnection. Vacations are important for their uninterrupted time to focus on one another. These times help you rediscover common interests and create shared memories. If work is too demanding this summer for a vacation, at least plan a long weekend retreat together.
- Special days are a big deal. Anniversaries, birthdays, and even the school play are all a big deal to your family. Allow time in your schedule for those special days. Your son will remember seeing you in the stands at his baseball game far longer than he will what you did for a living.
- Romance is a must. Plan a date with your spouse at least once a month. It does not have to be fancy to be special. A date night shows your kids how important their mom is, allows your wife time to breathe and feel special, and goes a long way to keeping your emotional connection in sync.
Are you a working parent? How do you make time for family time? Share your strategies with us. And be sure to check out the "Working Life" column in ParentLife each month.
