Connecting with your Warrior: 5 Daily Habits to Make a Priority this Summer

     Ask any fellow parent how life is going and I guarantee you'll hear some version of "we're staying busy." Between the never ending emails, work, keeping house, play dates, kid's extracurricular activities... it seems like our to do list's and days are unending. But is all this busyness beneficial for our families? It is easy for us to view any productivity as a good thing when there are tiny humans involved because we parents all know how challenging it can be to get anything done on time with a kiddo or two in tow. So when we truly look at this currently trending 'busyness' epidemic is it a good thing or is it stealing chances to connect with our child away from us?

     Here at Warrior's Way we are firm believers that family time is the best time. The good news for you busy parents is that quality one on one time with your little ones trumps quantity any day. We know that your days are jam packed, but it only takes a few spare moments in between life to truly connect with our kids. So this summer lets make family our priority Warrior parents. We know that if you take the time to build these special moments into your daily routine a few minutes here and there, you will truly see your relationship transform in unexpected ways. So here are 5 easy daily habits to help make connecting with your Little Warrior a true priority this summer.

Hug it out:

     There is a lot of good that comes from simple hugs or an affectionate touch. In fact it is such a studied topic that family therapist Virginia Satir is most famously known for saying, "We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." This is also probably the easiest new habit to squeeze into our already busy schedules. So give it a try and snuggle your kiddo a little extra today. Whether it's a good morning squeeze, a pat on the back, a friendly hello, or a gentle hair tousle these moments are priceless when it comes to our since of connection and well-being.

Enter their creative worlds:

     Kid's are so imaginative. Their minds are truly magic at all ages. So take time to enter their creative worlds. Get to know them in each and every creative stage, explore their likes and dislikes. As parents we know how quickly these interests and play worlds change. So savor each stage. Whether they are inviting you to color, kill creepers in Minecraft, build with legos, or have a tea party make it a priority. When you make time a few weeks from now that stage could be gone forever. So make their creative world a priority. These are the moments you will miss and wish for when they are older. And a child who feels connected and understood is less likely to act out than one who doesn't feel a priority. So make one on one play time a weekly priority.

Take 5 and be present:

     Because life is so busy we have become master level multi-taskers. I mean be honest with yourself... how many times have we been guilty of half listening to a story of our child's day while answering emails, texting, or making a grocery list? So take 5 minutes. The work will still be there when you're done. So turn off your phone or turn down the music for even 5 minutes. Your child will remember for the rest of their life that they were important enough that your stopped what you were doing and gave them your undivided attention. This is also an excellent practice in the car when picking up your child from whatever activity or event they just came from. Lowering the music and just asking them how today was can be a powerful invitation to connect. The lack of eye contact in a car really takes the pressure off so kids are more likely to open up and share.

Weekly one on one date:

     This is a cute tradition that even if done bi-weekly can lead to some truly special memories. We see varieties of this in many of our Warrior families and it's too precious not to share. And the best part is this can be whatever you want it to be. Some families get ice cream every Friday, others have game nights or go bowling every week. The thing is it doesn't matter what you do for your family date. Having something you can reliably look forward too, a chance to just let loose, laugh and have fun is good for everyone. So start some awesome traditions and make family date night a priority in your home. 

End the day on a high note:

     I get it Warrior parents. Sometimes your day is just too busy and you can barely squeeze in 12 affectionate hugs. Have no fear! Bedtime is an excellent chance to make up for this and reconnect. By bedtime we're usually winding down also and any left over work from the day can be put off until tomorrow. So use bedtime to ask about their day, read a story together, or just cuddle on the couch to a favorite show. This quick moment of connection makes bedtime special and helps to end the day on a high note. It is also a chance to air out any hurts or concerns from the day before. Taking a moment to handle those before bed helps start tomorrow off on a better note. So take advantage of this chance to connect and check in before bedtime.

      We know fitting these 5 things into your busy summer schedule is a tall order some days. But we wouldn't advocate for it if we didn't truly believe in the positive power of family time. Life with its infinite distractions and separate schedules has a way of eroding connection. So find those spare moments in-between your daily routine and make the most of them. The benefits are worth too much for us not to make an effort. I mean who of us doesn't want increased connection, understanding, and cooperation in our homes? Building these routines may take some work, but it will leave you more connected, stronger as a whole, and with a heart full of happy shared moments long after your child has grown and begun to spread their wings.

#RaiseAWarrior