Being Present With Your Kids

The more I try to be present with them, the more I feel I enjoy them

Sometimes, all kids want is a bit of attention from their parents. Humphrey Muleba /Shutterstock

I’ve realized something recently about the way I parent. As a stay-at-home mom, the kids are always with me, but my default is very much for them to follow me around as I do the things I need to do. I’m not very good at just stopping, and playing, and being.

Last week, I brought it up with one of my best friends, and someone who I thought would struggle with this too since she is very much a “doer”: someone very driven, more career-oriented than me and always thinking about the next step or the next goal.