Connection is KEY

I recently talked about making time with your child and your spouse in my recent eNews. Have you had the chance to reflect on the messages? Have you had the chance to think about WHY making the time to connect with your children and spouse is key?

We recently had a conversation with my children about their grandparents, as they are approaching their 80s and living almost 7000 km away. I know that I have to make several trips back to Penang to support them as they get older. So we just asked the children whether they would take time off and fly to Malaysia to look after my parents? I was just interested in the response they had…

Both of them said sure, but depending whether they were still studying or working. Hmmm, I quite like the answer! But, of course, we would not put that commitment on them.

Again, we asked them under what circumstance would they put their lives on hold and help look after or support another family member. My daughter thought for a while and said, “it depends on the CONNECTION we have with that person!!” SPOT ON!

This is not a usual question to ask children, but I was just curious to see under what circumstances someone would put their lives on hold and take on the caring for another person. It has to be how we are connected to that person. How important is that person to you? What that person means to you?

This question can be interpreted in many ways, but basically it is telling us, WHAT YOU MEAN to another person, i.e. your children.

The roles you play in their lives, what you mean to them, how much they appreciate you…it all starts from when they are young!

I am stressing how important it is to create the connection NOW! It does not necessarily happen when they are teenagers. Start young and bridge the gap!

Have a connected day with your family!

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