Getting to the heart of the matter...one moment at a time!

I have read/heard how important one on one time with your kids is. But like how do you go about that? I mean seriously? We have tried to schedule mom/daughter dates. They always get cancelled. It seems to me that you just have to take those moments when they come. I can still remember staying home from school one day because I was "sick". When Dad had left to take the other two kids to school, Mom asked what was really going on. I told her how much I had missed her and wanted to just be with her. They were always so busy with the print shop. Instead of her being "put off" by my deceitfulness, she realized how much we needed that day. I can still remember how happy I was playing checkers with her, and having our lunch together. It is one of my fondest memories because she took the time to just be with me.

In the spirit of trying to have my children open up to me and tell me the issues they are dealing with, and remembering how special I felt that day so long ago, I have been trying to capture the one on one time whenever I see it. They are there more often than I realized. It could be a grocery store trip with just one girl. We have been known to stop and get coffee and hot chocolate to sip on throughout the store. It makes it even more fun when they have the little buggies that are a bit easier to maneuver for the girls. Although that does not mean I will leave that store without run over ankles or knocked down cleverly stacked boxes of food, strategically placed throughout the store. ;-) Alone time can also come late at night, after everyone else is tucked in bed. This, I have to admit, is super hard for me. When it's bedtime...I want to be in bed. But, this has also proven to be a time when my oldest Princess likes to share everything in her heart to me. This is a blessing for sure...but boy I am so tired sometimes. 

A couple of Wednesdays ago, Sweet Man had taken two of the girls to church while I stayed home with Princess #2. She had a pretty serious rash on her face, which ended up being poison ivy. But here I was with several hours of that one on one time I was looking for. At first I wasn't sure what we were going to do. We decided on making play dough.

Basic ingredient ratios:

2 cups flour

2 cups warm water

1 cup salt

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)

food coloring (liquid, powder, or unsweetened drink mix)

scented oils

Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. 

When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.

To get to what is really in my children's heart, one on one time has been the best strategy. It just makes everyone happy. :-)