This is the third Key Move that I would like to share with you: “I will be intentional about spending time with my children both individually and collectively. I will take each of my daughters on a date at least once per quarter, just the two of us. I will discover each child’s unique personalities and love languages, and then do things that are special and unique for each one.”
This goes right along with two of my other posts: “We Slid Down Together” and “You’re Gonna Miss This”. To reinforce this, the other day my oldest daughter asked if we could do something together, just the two of us. As I got to thinking, I realized it had been awhile. I used to be better about one-on-one time before there were four of them! It seems that my son is pretty high maintenance right now, and takes a lot of our time. In other words, if someone isn’t watching him at all times, the world may truly be in jeopardy! 
Anyway, I have had several reminders recently to show me that this is an important “Key Move”. It may mean I have to go swimming more this summer, but I’ll do it for them.
In Men’s Fraternity, we learned the things that our children want us to know. I won’t share all of those things, but I’ll list some of them that struck me the most:
- “I need you to know my personality and honor it. The sooner, the better.”
- “I need you to discover my bent (giftedness) and actively support it.”
- “I need you to know that too much is too much.” a. Too much control crushes or incites. b. Too much money spoils and pacifies. c. Too high expectations discourage.
- “I need you to know you can wound me for a lifetime.”
- “I need you to make some great memories with me to live on.”
In spending time with each of them, I hope to discover more about their personalities, giftedness, love languages, likes and dislikes, and I want to create some great memories. I think it’s easier to get in their world now and stay there than to try to get in later when they are teens. I have a good relationship with my kids, and I want it to continue to grow.
Anyway, my oldest and I are going on a date this afternoon to see Prince Caspian, and are really looking forward to it. May God bless you as you strive to honor Him in your parenting!
