Moments of joy
LAST week had been a particularly busy week as I was tasked to handle a programme that ran late into the night. I was given accommodation because it might have gotten too late to travel home. But I decided to return home anyway. Fortunately, it was just an hour’s drive back.
But it was not the distance that influenced my decision. It was my youngest son’s “moments of joy”. If you’re wondering what I’m referring to, read on.
In our busy lives, it’s very easy to misplace our priorities. Very often our jobs demand much more than we can actually deliver. On top of that, we have other social and family commitments that seem never-ending. Therefore, it’s little wonder that many of us struggle to balance our lives. If you’re lucky, no major damage is done. But to some, one little misplaced priority can create a long-term effect.
This is when we should know about what’s important to our children and family. As every individual is unique, so is the way they view their lives, daily routines included. On the same note, as humans, it’s impossible to know exactly what other people’s likes and dislikes are, even if they’re our own flesh and blood.
That’s why it’s always a great idea to just ask them about these things. And that’s what I did recently with my son. I asked him about the things that we do together that make him happy.
He started sharing a few things, but one struck me the most. He said he really liked it when I send him to school every morning. I was quite surprised because I thought it just a mundane thing.
But to him, it had become the moments when we are alone and are able to talk to each other. That time has become one of his “moments of joy” with me.
From that day onwards, my perspective changed. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to send him to school anymore. I‘ll never view it as a chore but a golden opportunity to strengthen our bond. That’s why despite the fact that I was offered a room in a nice hotel, I happily declined it. Had I taken it up, I’d have missed sending Adam to school the next morning.
Such is the power of knowing our children’s moments of joy. I have had parents telling me similar stories. One parent told me that her daughter’s definition of joy is the time when she is picked up from school every day. That feeling of seeing each other after school is priceless. A father told me his son’s moments of joy are when they cycle together.
Now it’s your turn to find out from your children. You can ask: “What do I do that makes you happy?” After all, these will be the moments of joy that our children will remember for life.