One Thing I Never Fail to Do Every Day as a Mom
“Am I a good mother?” . This is one thought that definitely weighs on the minds of all the mothers.
As a mother working in WFO mode, I have these thoughts so much more often since I don’t find enough time to spend together during the week.
The mornings are always so rushed. There are days when I end up leaving so early that he has not even gotten up. By the time I reach back home in the evening, it is almost his dinner and sleep time. With so less time together, I constantly worry that he may lose connection with me.
There are so many things that we want to do everyday but either don’t have the energy or time to do so. Things to make our homes presentable, making a healthy variety of meals, playing with our kids and so on..
With this background, I randomly came across an article somewhere which mentioned the 7-7-7 rule of parenting. It sounded powerful and decided to try it after bit more research.
Best decision ever!
“Spend 7 minutes of quality time with your child in the morning, in the afternoon and before bedtime.”
I incorporated it is by doing it in the mornings (whenever possible) and in the nights without a fail! Instead of worrying on the quantity of time spent together, I focused on the QUALITY of our time.
I started to give my undivided attention on my son for the first few minutes when he gets up. Starting the day with a simple “good morning” and some silly jokes, before I resume my getting ready schedule. In the evenings, I feed him dinner personally and do some playing together before he falls asleep instead of designating it to others.
I might be running late or have many pending chores to do. But I have chosen not to think about them at all in those few minutes. Once he sleeps, I can do the other things.
As busy parents, we spend time with our child but very often are mentally being somewhere else. This 7-minute commitment becomes a daily reminder to return to the present and focus on what is the most important.
What Those 7 Minutes Should Look Like –
For seven minutes or more, enter the child’s world.
It is not a time to teach or correct. Just to connect.
One of the simplest ways to be present is to let the child decide. Follow their lead!
Accompany him without any distractions while keeping the phone away.
No calls. No notifications. No office or household work.
Believe me, those few minutes will do wonders !
I don’t get to know all about my son’s day but some small tidbits that he spells out makes me realize the stuff going in his mind. Something that he may have found funny, or upsetting. Something that he is looking forward to. Something new in his school..
These may look very ordinary. But they hold immense value to the child.
I want him to know- what matters to him, matters to me!
Remember, the goal isn’t to become a perfect parent.
The goal is much simpler:
To create a small duration of time where my child feels seen, heard, and important.
Seven minutes may seem insignificant on a busy day. But over weeks, months, and years, those moments accumulate into something much bigger: Trust. Connection. Security.
There are many things I don’t manage to do every day. I have made my peace with it. But I try to protect these valuable minutes.
Seven minutes to step out of my world and into my child’s. Seven minutes that remind both of us what matters most.
The softer moments often look different for each of us.
If there’s a simple routine that’s made a positive difference in your life, I’d love for you to share it. Your experience might be exactly what another parent needs to hear today.
-The Softer Routine
