No doubt, having your toddler or young child helping in simple activities can be frustrating.

I've struggled with this time and again.

It would be so much faster if I just did it.
It would get done better if I just did it.
It would...

Take a deep breath, ensure you are not time limited, and reframe it in your mind as time spent with your child instead of time completing a task. For me, this is the key.

This is something my wife is fantastic at. Every time she cooks, she asks our 5 year old son if he would like to help. A couple times, I have had to leave the kitchen due to anxiety of watching him stir pasta sauce or dip the chicken in egg then breading...but there have been meals where he has done every single step nearly himself. What an amazing learning opportunity and confidence boost. (Not to mention, he is more apt to try and eat the meal rather than saying it looks yucky! Parenting win!)

Try to slow down the day to day rush to enjoy these little moments. Instead of rushing to simply accomplish a task, take your time and turn it into an intentional moment.

This is easier said than done. But what if you tried to look at tasks from this point of view?

It's worth a shot.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather