One on one
Categories: Fun & activities, Places to go, Siblings
After our family celebration for Easter ends, our family of four is breaking into pairs. My husband is plotting some one-on-one time with our preschool daughter at the beach, and I'll be home with the baby. (This almost guarantees me a nap -- whee! -- although I probably just jinxed it by putting it in print.)We tend to spend a lot of our weekend time either as a foursome or switching off parent duties so that we can take turns accomplishing tasks child-free. The end result, however, is that our kids rarely get time alone with each of us.
It's especially complicated for my husband, whose hours with the kids are limited. Claire tends to be something of a mama's girl. She's so used to having me around, that while she wants to hang out with her dad, she has trouble understanding why Gage and I wouldn't just come along too. I think some dedicated time with daddy will allow his strengths as a parent to shine. Heck, she'll probably come back liking him a whole lot better than me.
Do you make it a point to spend time alone with each of your children? How do you do it?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sabrina 3-23-2008 @ 7:59PM
In order to spend time with each parent, you do end up splitting your family up for at least a day or so. A few weekends ago I took my DD out for "girl's day" and we shopped for summer dresses for her, and played at the big playground I never take her to, and even ate fast food (we never do because of DS's allergies). It was a fun day that we spent together. DH stayed home with our son and they played outside and took a walk around the neighborhood, and had their time together as well. Then last weekend we switched it up and DD went to a picnic with my husband while I stayed home with DS and had cuddle time and lunch and napping for both of us.
We try to spend at least one day a month alone with each child, and some time alone with both kids while the other parent goes out alone or *gasp!* with other adults. It's nice to be able to enjoy the strengths and sweetness of one child at a time sometimes. Some things get overshadowed by siblings.
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isisaquaria 3-23-2008 @ 8:09PM
We love to split time with the girls but the husband can't get US Army to leave him home long enough, so we do not get to do it often. Now, with the addition of the newbies, we will make it work somehow. Right now he is home because of the babes for 12 wks, so he has been doing alot of things with the older girls while the babes are being hijacked by me....it's different having been tired from preg and then having the nb vs no preg, and two nb.
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Anita 3-23-2008 @ 11:05PM
We commonly split the kids up with each parent. My son loves "daddy time" and will want to tag along when my husband goes anywhere, to the library, to the stores, or just across the street to vist the neighbors. My daughter would rather stay home but occasionaly she chooses to go with one of us on an errand, only if her brother is not going. They love to have time with one parent all by themselves and they are so much better behaved when they do.
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