I remember a cartoon I once saw in the newspaper—for those of you who still read cartoons in the newspaper—from Family Circle. This particular cartoon consisted of a circle sliced in two sections. On one side of the circle, a mother was complaining about the mess her children had made in the house. On the other side, the mother had a tear running down her cheek as she peeked into her attic and saw those same toys neatly placed in a corner collecting dust.

In this day and age, it can be hard for mothers to spend quality time with their children. Some mothers work full time, others have to take care of their elderly parents, and still others have so many children that they face the special challenge of only having so much individual mommy time for each child.

No matter your circumstance, it’s important to remember that it’s not so much the quantity of time spent with your children that makes a difference as it is the quality of the time spent with them. In our very hectic world, which seems more frenzied than ever these days, we need to make sure that we take advantage of every precious moment we have with our children. We need to learn to see our time with them as divine opportunities and appointments. After all, the window of time we have to engage with our children at such a young age is as small our little ones. Before I knew it, my son and daughter no longer needed me as much as they needed playtime with their friends. In what seemed like no time at all, they were independent enough to play outside and ride their bikes to their friends’ houses in the neighborhood without my hovering over them like a helicopter.

Mothers are busy, and we have to wear many hats. But we can still adjust some things in our lives to make sure we have a little bit more time to share and engage with our precious, little darlings. Can’t we make that cell phone call a little shorter? How about spending a little less time on social websites? What about skipping a television show or two? Instead of being in a hurry to get done with the dishes, prioritize making more time for family dinner at the table. Don’t forget that bedtime can be the best part of the day. Read your children an extra story; kids love that. Take time to plan the family trip that you have been putting off. Schedule a date with your child just like you would with your husband, and use that time to really engage. Ask them open-ended questions or share personal stories from your childhood with them. Most importantly, tell them that you love them and that God loves them! Isaiah 54:13 states, “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” When they get a little bit older, paste a Bible verse to their mirror so they can read it as they brush their teeth. Even if you only take a few extra minutes here and there, remember the key is to make the most of the time you have to invest with your kids.

If you are a single parent, don’t shy away from asking others for help so that you can free up time to plan extra activities with your children. Make a deal with another mother — while she spends alone time with one of her children, offer to watch the child’s siblings for her — then plan for her to return the favor. Don’t ever feel guilty for having a hectic schedule! Guilt is an evil spirit that consumes and destroys. Pray for God to give you wisdom and guidance. Remember, our children are only children for a short time.

My niece once told me that many of her friends were working mothers and she felt inferior for not having a career and raising a family. I took her over to a picture of my children when they were ages six and eight. I asked her if she knew where these children had gone because I hadn’t seen them in so many years and I missed them terribly! Her emotions overcame her ability to speak, and I knew from her facial expression that she understood.

So don’t worry about that messy house, TV show, or social website—not if it means spending less time with your babies! Those things will always be there, but your little ones will not!

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