Having just birthed my third child and taking time out to just be at home with my new little boy has helped me to take stock of what is really important to me. Have you had any time to do this lately? Our fast paced lives today leave little time for reflection and contemplation. We often spend all our waking hours on the treadmill of life rushing from one thing to the other in an attempt to live full, healthy, balanced lives. But do we know what is most important to us and does what is most important have priority in our lives?

Holding the tiny life of my precious new son in my arms has shown me anew the importance of family, and taking the time to enjoy each other. As a work-from-home-home-schooling-mom I have my fair share of time with my children, but do I take enough time out from our routine of chores, home-school, work and extra murals to just enjoy my children in the stage that they are in? I have realised that my children are growing so fast and that their childhoods will be over before I know it. The birth of my son is probably my last chance to raise a baby and I need to enjoy and cherish every minute of it.

What season of life are your children in? How can you connect with them anew where they are at? As our family is adjusting to having a new little member I am acutely aware of how my other children are doing and coping with the transition. Are you aware of how your child is feeling at the moment? Do you know what is worrying him/her and do they know they can come to you if they have a problem?

Here are a few practical ways that I am using to show love and enjoy quality time with my children at the moment, and might be useful to you as you try to do the same.

• Play together – take time to play games with your children. Get involved in their make-believe games or play board games and puzzles and eye-spy. They will be thrilled to have you show the interest in them.

• Talk - Have unhurried time to talk about life and how they feel. Find out how they are doing, what is bothering them, what is important to them or just arbitrary stuff about their day and their lives.

• Snuggle, Hug and Hold them - take the opportunity posed by the coming winter to snuggle, hug and hold them close. Even if you are not a very affectionate person naturally, you owe it to your children to change and become affectionate with them so that they can enjoy this physical expression of your love.

Children are not the only family members that need to be prioritised in our busy lives. Perhaps your aging parents need more of your time and attention. Perhaps your sibling relationships have been overlooked and need you to reconnect with. And then there is the ultimate relationship upon which the family is built – your relationship with your husband. Sometimes in the demands of life, the children will get priority over your relationship with your husband. Remember that if this relationship fails the whole family falls apart and so it is worth keeping, cherishing, working at and nurturing throughout your whole life.

In the long run I don’t believe that you will ever regret having too many children or spending too much time with your family, but I know that you could regret not spending enough quality time with them and spending your energy and time on other things. So take the time to think of what or who is most important to you and make sure that your priorities reflect this choice.

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