Spending Time with Our Kids

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CeileDe

Guest
#1
#1
I was listening to a sermon on Sirius this morning and it really hit me hard. It was talking about dads being there for their children.

It got me thinking about how in my life I don't spend enough time with my son. I know at times I think I do or I'll say I'm doing it better than other dads, but am I really? How many extra activities do we do in a week that pulls us away from our family?

I'm not one that goes out and plays a lot of sports or goes out and drinks on the weekends. I am home pretty much every night but one thing I noticed is, it isn't time with my son. I'm either on the computer, watching tv or spending time with the Lord. I just tell my son to go play his video games and then it is time for bed.

[h=3]1 Timothy 5:8 ESV[/h][h=3][/h][h=3][/h] But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I believe this verse also tells us to provide not just quality family time but quantity family time. We are to provide financially and our time to our families.

So many of us say we give quality time to our family but do we give quantity time? We need to give our family the best of us we can and stop ignoring our responsibilities just because there is a video game that can entertain them for us.

As parents we need to give our kids our all and stop making excuses for why we aren't throwing the ball with them or teaching them how to ride their bikes. If softball, drinking, UFC, TV etc are keeping us away from them then it is time to cut the extra things out of our lives and give it to the kids or one day we are going to lose our kids to the world.

Just my thoughts.
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#2
#2
CeileDe said:
I was listening to a sermon on Sirius this morning and it really hit me hard. It was talking about dads being there for their children.

It got me thinking about how in my life I don't spend enough time with my son. I know at times I think I do or I'll say I'm doing it better than other dads, but am I really? How many extra activities do we do in a week that pulls us away from our family?

I'm not one that goes out and plays a lot of sports or goes out and drinks on the weekends. I am home pretty much every night but one thing I noticed is, it isn't time with my son. I'm either on the computer, watching tv or spending time with the Lord. I just tell my son to go play his video games and then it is time for bed.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I believe this verse also tells us to provide not just quality family time but quantity family time. We are to provide financially and our time to our families.

So many of us say we give quality time to our family but do we give quantity time? We need to give our family the best of us we can and stop ignoring our responsibilities just because there is a video game that can entertain them for us.

As parents we need to give our kids our all and stop making excuses for why we aren't throwing the ball with them or teaching them how to ride their bikes. If softball, drinking, UFC, TV etc are keeping us away from them then it is time to cut the extra things out of our lives and give it to the kids or one day we are going to lose our kids to the world.

Just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
I think kids need to be able to entertain themselves to a degree. It's easy to get into the guilt mode.... thinking you're not doing enough with them. I watch their cartoons with them, play basketball, build legos etc.... and I also make it fun for them to help me do things around the house. I also let them entertain themselves part of the time but I always keep my eyes peeled so I can step in and take corrective action if it's required.
 
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cmarieh

Guest
#3
#3
Sirk said:
I think kids need to be able to entertain themselves to a degree. It's easy to get into the guilt mode.... thinking you're not doing enough with them. I watch their cartoons with them, play basketball, build legos etc.... and I also make it fun for them to help me do things around the house. I also let them entertain themselves part of the time but I always keep my eyes peeled so I can step in and take corrective action if it's required.
Click to expand...
Back when I was a little, my dad worked Graveyard shifts and would leave at 8pm and would try to get home no later than 6:30 the following morning so he could eat breakfast with my sister and I. He made sure we were a priority in his life. I remember sitting on his lap while we had our bowls of cereal and watched "Theodore the Tugboat" before we caught the school bus. On the weekends we all would play with our Legos, Lincoln Logs, Tonka Trucks, and we even wrestled around. Granted sometimes we would get a little too rough and someone would get hurt, but it was all in good fun. I cherish those memories to my very core because my dad was and will always be my hero because he made sure we had everything we have ever needed even if it meant he went without things he needed.
 
W

WolfGaming

Guest
#4
#4
Spending time with your kids is probably a really good idea if only to bring them more towards God.
 
R

Rosesrock

Guest
#5
#5
In a nut shell, we need to remember our roles as parents. Raise up a child. Again ill remind you the satan is a roaring lion, and we will justify anything. But as the 'great sirk' said, there is a balance between entertainment and mentoring, and training in God's word.
For what it's worth it's about finding how they feel loved and keep that tank full, but not through achild's manipulation to soothe our guilt. Dad's son may not need time, but they do need the Godly example, and a built trust so they know whatever, whenever you are there. This relationship didnt happen with my son and his dad until 3 years ago. My hub is a wonderful provider, but in his words his parenting skills sucked, so he let me do it. I realized fast my son needed his dad. There's just some things mom cant do.
Same with eachnparent child relationship. The goal is laying a foundation, stay consistant, and stay the course.
I believe today we need to be more proactive in our children's lives because of the issues they face. Building that parent/child foundations leads to open communication, prayer, accountability, prayer, repentance.....nurture and admonition :)
 
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P

purgedconscience

Guest
#6
#6
CeileDe said:
I was listening to a sermon on Sirius this morning and it really hit me hard. It was talking about dads being there for their children.

It got me thinking about how in my life I don't spend enough time with my son. I know at times I think I do or I'll say I'm doing it better than other dads, but am I really? How many extra activities do we do in a week that pulls us away from our family?

I'm not one that goes out and plays a lot of sports or goes out and drinks on the weekends. I am home pretty much every night but one thing I noticed is, it isn't time with my son. I'm either on the computer, watching tv or spending time with the Lord. I just tell my son to go play his video games and then it is time for bed.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I believe this verse also tells us to provide not just quality family time but quantity family time. We are to provide financially and our time to our families.

So many of us say we give quality time to our family but do we give quantity time? We need to give our family the best of us we can and stop ignoring our responsibilities just because there is a video game that can entertain them for us.

As parents we need to give our kids our all and stop making excuses for why we aren't throwing the ball with them or teaching them how to ride their bikes. If softball, drinking, UFC, TV etc are keeping us away from them then it is time to cut the extra things out of our lives and give it to the kids or one day we are going to lose our kids to the world.

Just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Is that sermon that you heard available online? If it is, then can you please provide a link? Personally, I'd like to hear it. Thank you.
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#7
May 8, 2014
5,061
1,498
113
#7
I believe that one of the most neglected time that we spend with our children, is a time of daily prayer. This is especially true when they become teenagers. Please set aside a regular time each day to study Gods word, and pray as a family.
 
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