Being the mom of four children who were born during a time span of barely seven years, I used to be intrigued by the idea of the existence of quality time. The possibility that the seemingly endless house hold chores would come to a halt and make way for enchanted quality time was exciting and energizing.

If I could just clean and cook a bit faster, quality time would magically begin. If I could get out of work just a bit sooner, I could pick up baby and stop by the park to take a beautiful afternoon stroll with a gentle breeze surrounding us. How often does this happen? If this is quality time, then what is the rest of our time as parents meant to be?

What if, on the contrary, we as moms or dads do nothing but breathe in and out quality time with baby? Quality time with baby is just there every time we look into baby’s eyes, hear her voice, repeat her cues, sooth her, carry her, rock her, hold her.

Quality time with Baby is not a place we reach in the near future, it is not happening tomorrow nor later. Quality time happens when we are deliberate, intentional and dedicated to include baby in each moment.

Quality time is happening right now. It is called life. It will continue, with or without our contributions to quality. We can make quality time real. We can switch on our senses right now. We can see, listen, feel, speak, sing, laugh and play. Yes, running an errand with baby will be more challenging, setting the table will take longer, the kitchen will be messier, the pile of laundry taller.
So will be the list of memories.
Life with baby entirely is quality time. Baby grows fast- and not with the purpose to increase quality time with us but to go out into the world to succeed in finding a life of fulfillment and happiness.
Teach yourself and baby that every moment is quality time for now and for the generations to come.