by Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
http://www.markbrandenburg.com
mark@markbrandenburg.com
©2004
I was packed and ready to leave for my two day
trip. My mind had been consumed with work and with many of the small
details of getting ready to go.
As I got into the car to leave, my thoughts turned
to my children. I'd been preoccupied for the last few days, and
now I'd be gone for a few more.
How to stay in touch with your kids during busy
times is often a father's dilemma. Men tend to focus on one thing
extremely well for long periods, but this can lead to trouble. Shifting
from work to your family life isn't always the easiest thing to
do. And if you don't show your kids that you're thinking about them,
they may assume that you're not.
As I started down the road, I suddenly stopped
the car and turned around.
I drove back to my house, found a couple of cards,
and wrote a short message to each of my children. I put each in
a "secret" place where I knew they'd find it.
When I called the next night, it was clear that
they'd received the cards. "Daddy, I got your card," they
both blurted excitedly. "When did you do that?"
My heart was warmed to hear this. It was such a
small thing. But it had a big impact on my kids. It was their "proof"
that I was thinking about them. And it was encouragement for me
to continue to do the small things that have a big impact.
Here are some ideas for fathers to show your kids
that you're thinking of them.
- Call them to say hi when you're at work. It doesn't have to
be more than two minutes a week, and they'll notice your efforts.
- Leave special messages for them around the house when you're
not there. This lets them know that they're in your thoughts,
even when you're not there.
- When you're out of town, call your kids and keep them up to
date on what you're doing. This helps your kids to feel involved
in your life.
- Surprise your kids by showing up at an event where you weren't
expected. This shows them that they're high on your priority list.
- Make sure you tell your kids that you're thinking of them when
you're away from them. Tell them that you think of them when you're
at work. They may not realize this until you tell them.
As fathers get busier and work longer hours, the
little things can sometimes be lost. Don't lose the opportunity
to show your kids how important they are.
Take a moment to do the small things for your kids.
It won't seem small to them.
Credit:
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches men to be better fathers and
husbands. He is the author of "25 Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent
Fathers" http://www.markbrandenburg.com/father.htm
Sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, "Dads, Don't Fix
Your Kids," at http://www.markbrandenburg.com
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Reprint of this article does not constitute an
endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is
for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web
site.
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