Yesterday I got the privilege of spending the evening with my 3-year-old grandson while his parents were out. Landon is a very active child and is always eager to learn new things. He certainly keeps grandma busy!
As soon as I got to his house, he wanted to go outside and play. This is great because many children today spend way too much time watching TV and playing with games that don’t stimulate their imagination. I’m from a generation that believes children need fresh air and an active lifestyle to be healthy and happy. Of course the temperature outside was 29 degrees (celsius) so we had to stay out of the sun. We played in the shade with one of his new toys that he got for his birthday – a bat and ball set. Then we went inside for a break from the heat and had something to eat.
After supper, we went back outside again and played for a while. Then we sat down, ate popsicles and relaxed. It was great fun!
As the sun dropped, it was time to come in and start winding down for bed. First a healthy snack, then a bath and story time. Landon loves reading and he sits real close as I read, sometimes on my lap. I tell him to pick out 2 or 3 books and he always comes with at least 5 or 6. He especially likes the ones that have flaps to pull open, things to turn or doors to slide. Reading to a child is a wonderful experience. It forms a close relationship and makes them feel loved, while helping them learn and grow.
Story time comes to an end and it is time for lights out. Prayers first, then hugs and kisses as he snuggled down in bed. Looking down at a sleepy child gives you such a warm, fuzzy feeling!
I can’t tell you how important it is to spend time with a child. When my two girls were growing up, I spent lots of time with them, but I also remember the times when I was too busy to play with them because I was trying to keep the house clean or work on something I felt was more important. I realize now that there is NOTHING more important than spending time with your children and helping them build their esteem. Children need to feel loved and appreciated and this is done by showing them how important they are and being involved in their lives. We all have to spend time working, keeping our homes clean and doing other necessary things, but these should not be the most important thing in our lives.
Build some special moments in your life by spending time with your family and friends. When you look back at your life, you will remember those special moments and they will give you a wonderful feeling. Don’t live with regrets about the opportunities that you missed.
imconfident 
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