Rules to Live By

{image via here}

So today was a snow (really ice) day here and my dear daughter got to stay home with me. I was really praying for this day because I just miss her... It was a shock to my system on the first day of kindergarten when she was gone away from me for seven hours. She went from being my little partner, by my side for 5.5 years and then, poof, she was gone the majority of our waking hours. (She was fine, of course.) So I was going to make the most of our day. We started out with a fire and some cuddle time on the couch. Then breakfast, something quick as not to have to waste too much time cleaning up. And then we started on a little art project (Thanks, Miss Aimee & my sweet friend over at Kotori, for the inspiration). Then we had some quiet time for everyone, reading or doing whatever. I thumbed through my previously dog-eared magazines to see which articles I really wanted to tear out to revisit later. I came across Rules to Live By in my October Parents mag (okay, I'm a little behind). It was so perfect for the day. Here's the rundown of it, as it appeared:

1. I will get my kids up earlier so we can spend a little time together before the day starts.

2. I won't talk on my cell phone while grocery shopping with my kids.

3. I will remember to be at eye level with my child when I need his attention.

4. After work, I will spend five minutes with my kids before going through the mail or returning phone calls.

5. I will plan at least one outing or special activity with my kids each week.

I loved re-reading this after a morning of quality time. It felt good and reassuring. So simple, really. Admittedly, though, there are days that I would have read that and felt some guilt for having broken the rules. It's sounds so, "oh yeah, of course that's the right thing to do," but it's easy to slip into the haste of life. It was a great refresher. And oh, it feels so good to put into practice!