Feel like I’m missing out

[Anonymous]

IThe other day, i browsed through old photos and videos of the kids that I downloaded onto the computer years ago...wow, a walk down memory lane.

Just be present in the moment Op The dishes and laundry can wait. No need to reply to a text the moment it pops up. Just be 100% engaged with the kids. It's exhausting after awhile, but it's a good feeling.

[Anonymous]

My DH works full time with a lot of overtime after work and over weekends, but he tries to find time to play with kids daily (board game, exercise/read together etc), it doesn’t need to be long hours, just try to keep it everyday if possible and it’s good enough.

[Anonymous]

Start doing bedtime with the kids all by yourself every night. You’ll get reconnected quickly.

[Anonymous]

OP, a couple of suggestions (from a self-described workaholic who missed a lot of time when my other kids were younger but took some steps to change things with my youngest one).

-carve out time to do a thing with each child. because I tend to be really task-oriented I found it was often hard to just sit and be and play or chat with a little child, I would be checking my emails, or itching to get back to that memo. If I had a specific thing to do with them, especially one that takes me out of the house, even to the backyard, it was easier for me to focus. Even if it's just "let's walk to the mailbox to mail a letter," or 'let's make pancakes this morning" i enjoy the specifics of having a thing. And if you have a special thing with a child you can keep doing it and that develops its own momentum.
-carve out time with individual children. We have three and when they were all under 6 it was really just crowd management, there was no time to actually talk or interact with a child, it was just trying to clean up all the time and get people fed and bathed and off to school.try to divide and conquer with your spouse so you get half a day each weekend, or two hours on a weekend night with just one child. They will really relish it.

good luck OP, you can't hold a wave on the sand, just try to enjoy the moments you can get.

[Anonymous]

Quantity has a quality all its own.

I try to let them into the room I'm working, singly or in groups, so they can draw, color, read, or play. I do have to kick them out periodically when I need to focus or for conference calls or when the volume gets too high.