5 Ways to Enjoy Every Moment

Don't you just love it when people with grown children tell you to "enjoy every moment" because it "goes by so fast"? Yeah, right- if only it were so easy! Could you please tell me exactly how to enjoy myself when my children are tandem screaming, the floor is covered in yogurt and I'm slaving over the stove to make a healthy meal that they will no doubt refuse to eat? The sentiment is well-meaning, but ultimately useless.

Can we just agree that it's impossible to enjoy EVERY moment of ANYTHING?

Okay, good. But we can certainly enjoy our parenting lives more, can't we? I hope so. That's my goal, at least. Here are 5 ways to head in that direction:

1. MUSIC

Music is a powerful mood-changer, for both kids and adults. Thanks to technology it's more accessible than ever. When things get hairy, put on some tunes (or even just SING a tune) and someone's mood is bound to improve.

2. CHOCOLATE

Green & Blacks organic fair trade 85% is my go-to day-saver. It's delicious, good for you (really? yes, science never lies) and gives a boost of energy and feel-good chemicals.

3. EMPATHY

Focusing on someone other than yourself in order to make yourself feel better might seem like cheating (making a selfless act selfish?!) But it works. And focusing on someone else to make your yourself feel worse wouldn't make any sense, would it?

4. SPECIAL TIME

This is a tool from Hand in Hand Parenting that I've been wanting to make a more regular part of my life. The basic concept is that by giving your child 5-10 minutes of your undivided attention, you build connection that fosters cooperation. Who wouldn't enjoy a more cooperative child?!

There's more info on special time here.

5. PLAYFULNESS

When the kids are having a conflict and I can't find it in myself to be kind and compassionate like I want to be, there's another option- silly, goofy, wacky or crazy in the name of playfulness. I have to admit I haven't made it all the way through Laurence Cohen's book "Playful Parenting," but I want to try using his techniques more. Not just because it's good for my kids, but it's good for my sanity. I get so tired of intervening in conflicts. Sometimes it's simply more fun to distract with a good game.

There are many other ways to enjoy parenthood, but five is about all my sleep deprived brain can handle right now. Post your ideas in the comments below- how do you manage to enjoy parenthood?

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