This is a sponsored post for Kellogg's Chocos #Khuljaye
Bachpan Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com
We are all looking for a harmonious relationship with our
family, especially, our children; and every now and then, we attempt to do
something about this. But alas, more often than not, we get caught up in our
work and there is always that one email, phone call or urgent message that
takes us away from our children for just a few minutes, and then that moment is
lost! Obviously, later, we fret about how we can spend more quality time with
them.
I know the feeling; been there, done that. Time, we all
know, is the best thing we can give our children; and I have always looked for
ways to spend more and more quality time with my little one. Then one long
weekend this January, I found this easiest and the simplest way to (try to)
make it up to him! Now, this may not be a fool-proof method I agree, but it is
enough for me that I am trying, to begin with.
You see, we had the luxury of enjoying a long weekend last
month, thanks to the Makar Sankranti holiday and since we had just recently
travelled for the Christmas vacation, we decided to spend this long weekend at
home – a staycation, you could say. Even our little one, who had missed his
toys when we travelled, was game and so we all agreed to spend the weekend
lazing around the house!
We spent the first day watching movies. Then we cooked,
washed and cleaned the house (with my little one pitching in) and generally had
a fun time. We even found time to read before bed!
But the second morning, we started looking for more ideas.
We did not want to watch movies anymore. Nor did we need to cook as we still
had plenty of leftovers from our over-enthusiastic cooking of the previous day.
And we certainly did not wish to get out of the house, although we were
precariously teetering towards it. Thankfully, that’s when the miracle
occurred!
We had asked our little one to find something for all of us
to play; and he went and opened his toy chest in search of something. I had
followed him and was happy to see the collection of board games in his toy
chest that he rarely ever took out! You see, my little one has received many
toys and board games for his birthdays and on other occasions over the years;
but he is an only child and both my husband and I have to work during the week,
leaving him mostly to play on his own or watch TV or read.
He too is old enough to enjoy his own company; and loves his
books, cars and action figures. Plus he also chats with me non-stop (as I work
from home, sitting with my laptop wherever he is playing in the house).
Nevertheless, he mostly plays by himself; and rarely plays board games.
I remember when he was little and I wasn't back to work yet;
we would play together. We played board games, card games and also did puzzles
together. But as he grew and got busy with school, I too got busy with work;
and the board games took a back seat. Today, with age, his interests have
changed so much, that now when I ask him if he wants to play board games, he
mostly refuses and prefers reading or watching TV instead.
As a mother who has spent all my time bonding with my little
one since he was born – through holidays, festivals, illnesses, anxieties and
celebrations – this definitely hurts me somewhere. I am not saying I am not
happy he enjoys his own company; but it also scares me to think that he
doesn’t always need me to keep him company.
And that’s why, when I saw my little one staring at all
those board games, I just knew what we were going to do for the rest of the
day! I suggested we play Monopoly and got my husband on board (who is
aware of the way I feel). And over our little one’s protests, we got the big
game set out on the coffee table along with orange juice, and chips and Chocos
for snacks!
Before we knew it, our little one had gotten into the game
with full enthusiasm(he was the banker!) and the next two hours, as you can
imagine, went by swiftly with each of us taking turns laughing, screaming and
even fighting over whose turn it was or how a certain someone always seemed to
get lucky!
By the time the first game ended, we were hungry for more
and followed it up with Scrabble. Both my husband and I love the game but we
were sceptical about our little one managing on his own and asked him if he
wanted to partner with either of us. But he stood his ground and he actually
won the game!
This was followed by more serious games like Chess and
Checkers along with some more Chocos and milk; and it was only at the end of
that day, that I realised how much I myself had missed the fun
and excitement of these games. And more importantly, how much I had missed
bonding with my little one over them! As we continued to play Uno, over dessert
that night I vowed to make this bonding ritual a more common habit in my
household.
Why not? You see, sooner or later, we all need to realise
that no matter how important our other responsibilities may be; there is one
thing that is the most important – making time for our family, for our
children! And one of the best and the simplest ways I found to bond with mine
is over board games.
Now that is my idea of giving a happy and memorable
childhood to my little one ke khuljaye bachpan uska! What’s
yours?
#KhuljayeBachpan
Comments
Post a Comment