Too busy to create memories?

An article in our local rag interested me this morning. It was about a UN study which argues that we are giving our children too many toys to compensate for not spending time with them, because 'we are too busy.'

The most disturbing part about it, was that the children when asked what they wanted most, replied 'more family time.' Our children it would appear 'get' it while we adults appear to have 'lost the plot' at least that is what the article suggested.

And as always when I read something interesting, I start applying it to my world and that of my coachees, so out of interest what do we think about the following questions.

1) How many 'toys' (and not just children's toys here) do you have in your home now compared to the home you grew up in, and did you as a child feel deprived?
2) How many 'activities' or 'adventures' have you been on in the last month? (don't include organised regular activities)
3) When you were growing up what did you enjoy doing the most- what are your favourite memories? (Did they involve an object, ie a toy or a free activity or adventure?)
4) What would you like your children/ families memories to be about 2011?
5) Are you making that happen?

If like the 5 other people I have asked this morning your answers were:

1) A lot more and no.

2) Not very many.

3) Picnics, park, beach, bike rides etc- all adventure based.

4) Like the ones I had.

5) Mmmmmm not really.

If they mirror the above it might be time to start rethinking, the weekend is not very far away. It might be just the opportunity to ask your children/ family members to create a memory with you.

Have fun.

Comments

Kindness, a simple word with a powerful reach

When was the last time you were intentionally or unintentionally kind to someone else? Is there a 'type' of kindness you demonstrate regularly? To a particular type of person. Is it time to expand your repertoire? Kindness is contagious, essential for genuine human interactions and good for both parties. 'Random Acts of Kindness Org' posit being kind is linked to a decrease in stress, anxiety, depression and even blood pressure (see there website below). So not only does it help someone else but it is also good for us. So if you are up for a challenge you could try embedding the practice of kindness into your everyday. There are many resources for home, schools and businesses in the links below. And don't forget to be kind to yourself! https://kindness.org/ https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

What 10 things do you do well?

We are generally very good at knowing what we need to do better but very very bad at being able to say we do something well. "I should do more exercise." "I could communicate more." "I need to get better at time management." "I should work on my presentation skills." "I need/ should (add your own in here!!!) It is time to put a different perspective on it. After all you didn't get to the ripe old age of (add here whatever age you feel like being), without managing to do some things well, the tricky part is being able to articulate what they are. So grab that coffee, find somewhere quiet and write down/think of 10 things you do well, just 10. Oh and fight the temptation to be glib, so 'I am good at being on facebook' doesn't count, but 'I am good at keeping in touch with people' does! The reality is that remembering and stating what we are good at is much harder than it sounds. We spend most of our time in the ...

Is independently getting to school really so dangerous?

It's been a while I know and what brought me back was a conversation I had this morning, with several parents, about children travelling on public transport and walking to school. I clearly missed the memo which said it was unwise, and unsafe to let a child use a bus, train or their feet to get to school. In fact I was quite shocked about the conversation and so have done some reading. It seems (according to the 'West') parents in WA are far more uncomfortable than our European and British counterparts at letting our children independently get to school. Why? What is it about how we perceive our city and transport system which makes us so? Is Perth really more dangerous than London or Paris? Are our trains so inefficient we risk our child being stranded? Or are we simply worried the physical world is somehow fraught with danger? Dangerous, predatory people exist, they always have and always will, some of them will even catch buses and trains, ...

From Clutter to Clarity

Search This Blog