How to stop daydreaming and be present with your family

People can be so busy, with complicated lives and many obligations that they forget to enjoy the present and the little moments that matter.

Life’s Special Moments
So much of the time that parents spend with their children has a habit of becoming a chore. Feeding, changing diapers, tantrums and late nights becoming grueling tasks and not special moments. This is especially true if your mind is at home during work and at work while at home.

But, according to a study reported in sciencemag.org, people living in the present are happier in general than those whose mind is always somewhere else.

Create presence
According to AFineParent.com, there are lots of ways to stay in the present with the family:

Enjoy the messes: Children often learn by making messes and exploring the world in their own way. They are still delighted by new feelings such as squishy mud and smells in the garden.

Help when asked: When a child asks for help it is because they consider that thing to be crucial. Learning when to say no is also important, but recognize that this is how they feel.

Accept the bad times: Holding a sick child at 3 a.m. can be dreadful for a parent. Accept the situation and don’t ask for a cosmic answer about why this is happening now.

Put away your toys: Putting away the phone allows for engagement with the kids — and even pets, who are also abandoned by technology.

Keep the conversation going: Talking to children is one of the best ways to help them learn and grow so don’t be afraid to chat, even in public.

Relive it through writing: Tiny little events and moments are something to be cherished later. Why not write down just one sentence a day to capture the highlights.