We often hear that we should spend time with our kids, but knowing when to do it and how it affects our relationship can be a different story.
I can speak from my own experience. I’m a doctor and a father of two. My older child is an 11-year-old champion boy, and my younger one is a 6-year-old cute princess. I missed the first three years of my first child’s life while I was doing my training in Delhi and my wife was posted in Rajasthan. Luckily, I was able to witness my second child’s early years.
Seeing my second child grow up made me realize what I had missed. There is no better feeling than watching your own child grow. Their first word, first crawl, first time standing, and first steps are moments that are forever etched in your heart.
This is where I saw a clear difference. Before the age of seven, parents are a child’s entire world. Kids see them as their superheroes and best friends. But after age seven, a new world opens up. They start exploring and making new friends, and you’ll hear new characters and stories in their small world.
After the age of ten, they become busy with school and other activities. They start spending more time with their friends than they do with you. You’ll suddenly feel that they are no longer a kid and are growing up so fast.
So, the best time to enter your child’s life and heart is before the age of ten to build a lifelong emotional bond. Remember, if you don’t spend time with them when it matters to them, you shouldn’t expect them to spend time with you when it matters to you. If you don’t make time for them while they’re growing, don’t expect their time when you are aging.
I’ve seen many of my senior colleagues regret that they aren’t emotionally connected with their kids because they were too busy with their careers. Money comes and goes, and jobs can change, but your kids won’t grow up twice. Make time in your busy schedule to enjoy these precious moments and create lifelong memories. I promise you won’t regret it.
