Balancing Me-Time and We-Time for Parents

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For most people, having children teaches them about selflessness because everything they do after having children is about answering the needs of their kids – at least in the early years. While caring for the needs of our children is noble, it is also important not to underestimate the role that balance plays in terms of preserving our mental health and sanity. That being said, we should note that giving our kids the time and attention they need is highly important for their development – which should go hand in hand with our own needs and attending to these as well.

These are some ways we can balance the two:

1. Turn traditional chores into family bonding time.

The house still needs to be kept clean and tidy – and this is something that you shouldn’t have to do on your own. You can make this into a bonding activity by letting your children have their own part in cleaning the house.

Apart from hitting two birds with one stone – clocking in on bonding time as well as getting the house in order – you are also able to instill in your kids the value of cleaning the home and cleaning up after themselves. They learn to become responsible at an early age, and the best part is it is pegged to a positive memory of helping out and spending quality time with family.

2. Carve out special alone time with each child.

Each child has their own specific needs, and should be attended to with specialized attention. There is no one size fits all rule here, because each kid is unique. Make sure to take the time to get to know your kid and converse with them in order to understand what is on their mind, what stirs their soul, and what their deepest needs and desires are. Spending time with them can also be meditative for you as a parent. You don’t need to always be talking in order to spend time – sometimes, you can sit in silence with each other and just enjoy each other’s company that way.

3. Discuss schooling options.

When your kids are a bit older, you can talk to them about their educational preferences – if they would prefer going to a nearby school within the city or going to a school that is farther away. There are many resources online such as aic.edu.kw that can help your kids decide where they want to study. Once they decide if they will be going to a school nearby or far, you will have an idea of how much you will see them after high school graduation. You may want to prioritize quality time with them now if they do decide to go to a school that’s far away.

There are many different ways you can balance your time for yourself, as well as give the necessary attention to your kids. If you are able to become systematic about the process, having appropriate me-time while still being the best parent you can be is very much achievable.