Happiness is...time spent with kids.

Nestled comfortably in my lap my youngest looks busy at my desk, curls bobbing tenderly, fingers lightly tapping the keyboard, all in mimicry of myself at work. With my deadlines looming sooner than I like, I try to cajole her off my lap but to no avail, she screams no and nestles in deeper. After fifteen minutes of quietly sitting there, it suddenly dawns on me that all my daughter wants to do was to spend time with me. Being the youngest and now moving into toddlerhood, she is quite independent and is splendidly looked after by the nanny. Also the older ones with their numerous practices and activities demand my attention and involvement. I need to accompany them for practices; I need to watch the umpteenth musical event. Thus taking my time away from the younger ones, for as long as they are washed, napped and fed, I need not get so actively involved. But that doesn’t still take away from the fact that a child needs their parent. Whatever age we are, we all need our parents, for guidance, for support, for reassurance of love and safety, we came from our Parents and they are our rock. 
As parents, we are there for our children from day one, we nurture them in their newborn years and slowly introduce them into everyday life. From the beginning we are their first teachers, unknown to us our children watch and copy everything we do. We are their role models.

Spending time doesn’t necessarily mean doing things for them. It means actually spending quality time, talking, listening and being there in the moment. Here are some good reasons as to why we should make it a priority to spend time with our children.

1.  Feeling loved: Feeling loved and important can do wonders to anyone’s disposition, young or old. Thus by giving a child your undivided attention you are telling them that they are important and your love for them is endless. Of course we all love our children, but sometimes they might not feel it, if you are constantly too busy for them.
2. Mirroring good habits: If you want your children to grow up a certain way with your thoughts and beliefs, then the best way to ensure that is to spend time with them. As growing children they will only copy what they are exposed to and you can only be their best teachers.
3. Spending time not money: Obviously spending time doesn’t mean spending money on them . No amount of toys or gadgets can substitute the loving ear that a parent can give a child. 
4. Bountiful of confidence: Having that person that you can talk to, who will not judge you, who will love you unconditionally is what a Parent can offer a child. Therefore this will give the child confidence to go out there and conquer the world, so to speak. Their inhibitions will be annihilated and every opportunity will be looked at something to achieve rather than shy away. Only a parent can give them this feeling. 
5. A two-fold success: All the articles refer to how beneficial it is for the child to spend time with a parent. But the benefits are not one sided. Time spent with children is precious. Their laughter will smoothen out your worries, will tug at your heart strings and will offer you the therapeutic cuddle that you occasionally need.

In this day and age, we all live busy lives. From work to school to the everyday running of our busy lives, it is a constant battle to find time to be still. But like all that we do in our lives, spending time with children should also be a priority. Spending those precious moments listening, talking and just being with your little one is priceless. Make it a priority to spend time with your child, you won’t regret it, but you’ll always regret not spending it, for when they are all grown up, it’s too late. Happiness is, definitively time spent with kids.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe