One on One time

I think it is critical to give our children one on one time. This time is to not only let them know you care but to build a critical relationship that these children may and likely will fall back on at some point in their lives. I want my children to have a relationship with me where they can come to me when things are going well and when they are going not so well or have embarrassing questions. Come to me, not your friends for real answers. We used to take the kids on a date. Every Friday was date night. Each month was designated to mom or dad. Each Friday would rotate through the kids (ie First child-first friday, second child-second friday, third child-third friday and then the fourth friday was daddy and me). I will say that the kids loved it and knew which friday was their friday. They would talk about it all week and then when it was mommy or daddy's turn they didn't seem to mind. On these dates, we would take them somewhere and talk about life and also teach them how to treat the person they are with (respect, how to open doors, to talk and engage in conversation-some of the lost arts of socialization). Sometimes it was just to go for a yogurt and other times it was to go to the driving range or go get pedicures. It wasn't about the cost or destination so much as it was about the time together. I admit we have fallen back on this. Partially because of time but also because my husband felt like we were always splitting up on the weekend instead of being together as a family on a weekend. So I think we are going to try to institute this again but spread it out so it is not every weekend. We have been working on a solution. Any suggestions? This weekend my son and I were able to spend some time together and at the end of the night we were watching a movie. He came around the couch and gave me a huge kiss on the cheek! Mission accomplished!