Being Present

I've really been thinking a lot lately about being a better mom. There are some things that I just need to improve on, but the biggest is really being present and connected to my kids instead of just going through the motions. At least 3 blogs that I read have shared this quote from Anna Quindlen in the last few days:

“…the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make…I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of [my children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”
--Anna Quindlen

I was especially hit today by this post from this blogger who I've been reading for a few weeks and totally loving. I really need to follow her advice. I'm currently trying to figure out the how-to's of being present. I've got a lot to work on. But I'm determined. Our family is worth it. My kids are worth it.

Feel free to share your wisdom.