Every kid should feel like they are the center of attention at times. Unfortunately with the busyness of life, kids are often the most overlooked. With bills to be paid, hectic schedules-it is easy to keep them busy as well.
Then weeks have gone by and you begin to question when the last time you actually listened to or paid attention to your child. So has been the case in my family this summer.
Today my daughter had officially had enough. No, she didn't announce it. She didn't come up and ask for attention. No, that would be too easy for parents to know what needs were being missed or not taken care of at the time.
Instead she melted down. It has been building up for a few days. Extra whining over simple, minute little details. But today she had reached her breaking point and I was thankful. I was thankful that she did because it finally woke me up. I began thinking and realizing how little attention she has been getting. As much as I play about her "devilish" personality, she is my child who has taken the least work. She plays with no attention and keeps herself entertained.
My son will flat out tell me that he needs attention or how I am being a bad parent. Not her. The only way I would have ever known is for her to break down. What did she break down about? Her dad left for work before she was able to say "have a good day too!"
Ouch! It has been a month since school let out and the mommy and me time disappeared. With an extra kid at home and the need for more summer income, it was bound to happen. She has been overlooked.
How do I correct this? How do I make her feel that she is the center of attention? I recently watched an episode of "John and Kate Plus Eight." Yes, I am a junkie-it is the one show I stay up late watching after the kids have gone asleep. Anyhow, John and Kate have eight kids, but they still take the time to make each one feel special. Kids need that. If John and Kate can do it with their eight, I am determined to do it with my two and most likely my girl at the moment.
Here are some ways to make your child feel special.
Spend time with him/her doing what they like.
My daughter loves books. She loves pretending to read, she loves being read to. She loves stacking and organizing them. If there is a book around, she will have it in her hands. This morning after the break down, it was easy to clear my schedule for her. She picked out a book, climbed up in my arms and we read books. It was wonderful-holding her close and seeing her get excited during parts of her book. You know your child best. Do what she loves with her and interact. I just began watching a movie with my son. He loves movies. He told me the entire plot and storyline before it even started, yet I am still watching it with him because it is what he loves.
Cook their favorite dinner
Make him/her king or queen at the dinner table. Cook their favorite foods and let the entire family know it is that particular child's night.
Go out
We hear the phrase ‘Take your son/daughter on a date." While it is a good point, it is not the best terminology. You should take your child out for special time alone with you. Go to the zoo, mall, etc. Do what they like and enjoy the day getting to know your child individually instead of how they are with their sibling.
Sign up for activities
My son has been playing baseball since well before school let out. We have spent every weekend in a different city watching and cheering him on. No one has even thought of the sacrifice it has been on a three-year-old girl who is stuck out in the heat with no one to play with. The best thing we have done is signed her up for ballet. Every week now she feels like she is the center of attention as we all go and cheer her on. She loves the attention and it gives her something of her own to excel at.
Hopefully, I can make my daughter feel special with these extra steps. I am thankful she broke down, but I am even more thankful for the realization I had about the reflection this is of God's love for us. God always makes us the center of attention. The best news is that despite my weaknesses as a mom, God never fails at giving me the attention I need. He will never fail at giving my children that same attention.
