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Keeping our Children a top Priority

Part Two

And what are these families giving up to have these things? They are giving up relationships, love, time, and life to have more things. Their children are being raised by someone else and then given things to make up for lost time. Parents are working themselves to the bone for more things. They work crazy hours. Two jobs. Weekends. It’s just awful. Kids are left to their own devices and then we wonder why they’re drinking, doing drugs, having sex too early.

Remember though it’s not just being there. You can be at home all the time but if you’re not connected to your husband or wife, and your kids then you may as well not be there at all.

It’s not easy to make or keep your children a top priority. Out society right now is not set up to support the involved parent. It all comes down to what is really important to you. The house, there are modest affordable house out there, the cars, one or two lower prices cars will do you good, and jobs, there are good companies out there who respect family life just look for them.

Small side story here. I was pregnant with my daughter to I was starting to notice parents with their children everywhere. At the grocery store I noticed this dad with his two girls shopping. At first I thought, how wonderful this dad is getting errands done and still spending time with his daughters. Then I got closer and could hear their conversation. All through the store the girls, probably 7 and 10 years old, kept trying to engage their dad in conversation about school, dance class, friends etc. He was ignoring them most of the time. Too busy asking the meat counter man for advice on which steaks were best for grilling. He was talking to the counter person for ten minutes at one point all about grilling meat. At the check out his oldest daughter said, “Dad can I please talk to you now?” Without looking at her he said, “I don’t have time for you!” terse tone of voice, “You’ll have to see if your mother can talk to you tonight.” My heart broke at that little girls face at that moment. I can’t even describe the pain etched on her little face.
I know we all have busy moments and can’t be there 24/7 for our kids but I guess my point is that he had 10 minutes to talk about grilling meat. Which is more important grilling steaks or his daughter getting ten minutes out of his obviously too busy day?

I wonder what his reaction will be in 6 or 7 years when his then teen daughter is dating some idiot who treats her badly. What will he want to talk about then?

Copyright 2007 Kelly Paal
Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. She started her own business Kelly Paal Photography. She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. Please visit www.kellypaalphotography.com for more FREE how to articles.