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This morning was A MORNING in my house. Bryan left for a hunting weekend, and Lyla woke up to find her father missing. This led to an inability to pick out a stuffed animal for school and me picking up my screaming four-year-old, putting her in the car, driving like a crazy person to work, and delivering a miserable child and a sweating mother to Tatnall. It was not good.

With a bit of space between the morning and now, I started thinking about Lyla’s week. I was out Tuesday and Wednesday night for school and sports. Bryan was out last night and then gone this morning. My girl did not get enough time with her parents this week, which manifested into… a mess.

Earlier this week, I shared advice I received when I started getting busy with a parent. The advice was that I would have to focus on the quality of time with my children. This person told me I was giving up “quantity of time” with my kids, but it was okay if I committed to “quality of time” with them. Give them each time alone with me, not with my phone. Ask them what they want to do. Better yet, ask them a question and actually listen to the answer. Quality of time is what they need and what they remember.

Lyla didn’t get her quality time in, and it showed. This weekend, we will spend time snuggling, having tea parties, and playing Barbies. We may even get crazy and bake a birthday cake. For some reason, she keeps waking up and asking if it is her birthday (her birthday is in April). I will also carve out time with my older two because Audrey announced yesterday that she is halfway done with school, and in six years, she will be in college (talk about a gut punch). This weekend, I encourage you to do the same thing. Spend time together. Spend real time together without the distractions of a pressing schedule, a messy house, or a vibrating phone. Choose quality.