Carving out quality time with the girls as a single parent has to be intentional and planned because with a busy life, sometimes feel like I get lost in the fray.
When the weather is warm it is easy to bond while taking walks, biking, or throwing a frisbee in the park. Every summer we go to farms and pick produce. We miss Gogo’s abundant garden in Zimbabwe and this has become a ritual for us. It is a way for us to reminisce about about picking strawberries and a variety of fruits and vegetables in her garden.
Another reason why berry picking has become our favorite activity is because berries are so versatile, and of course we can eat our weight in them while picking. It's usually a handful in our mouths for every handful in the bucket.
When we get home, I use berries in savory and sweet recipes. Darker berries are especially great on steaks and game meat like buffalo and deer meat. And of course we make jam and pies. I find that when children pick their own produce and discover how and where it grows, it peaks more of an interest in eating that ingredient. Plus, I am trying to raise children who don’t answer, “ from the grocery store” when asked where milk comes from!
In the winter time when we are mostly home bound by minus degree temperatures and layers of snow it becomes a little more of a challenge to be creative.
Ultimately what I have learned is children don’t always need fancy arts and craft supplies or need to be engaged in some game or activity. They just want you to look at them in their eyes, interact with them, hold them and make sure you drop nuggets of “I love yous.”
I’m working to be a better mom and to always make a conscious effort for the girls and I to take time to turn off our devices. To actually talk to each other without looking down or being distracted by the pinging of an incoming text. I understand that the best time to bond with children is when they are young and impressionable. We only have a small window of time to spend quality time that will impart lifelong social, emotional and behavioral health.
Recipe of this Mini Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis is available in recipes.