JEDDAH — Busy parents are torn between work, social obligations, meeting all the household needs, and spending time with their children. Guilt is often an unwanted, uninvited, and inseparable companion for working moms. Finding more family time is a must and is not an elusive ideal. In fact, it is surprisingly easy, satisfying, and rewarding to fit in as little as an extra half hour a day just for the kids. And remember, it is quality that counts, not quantity! OREO, from Mondel?z International, has led a study that focuses on family time trends in the Gulf Arab region. The study was based on a survey conducted in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, and includes responses from 309 employees in 13 different participating companies. The results of the study recently revealed that on an average, parents in the Gulf spend 3.69 hours a day with their families, compared with 2.1 hours a day in Europe. Whereas almost all the working parents surveyed in the Gulf would like to spend more time with their families; in Europe the figure was only 28 percent. The study is part of OREO's commitment to encouraging parents in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to spend more time with their children. It is also part of “‘The Family Leave Initiative,” a social campaign launched by OREO to help busy, working parents leave their offices one hour earlier than usual, at least once a year so they can spend more time with their families. Participants in the survey who said they wanted more time with their families not only believed that this brings families closer together but also sets a better example for children as they transition into adulthood. Other common reasons included helping family members solve any problems they may encounter, to maintain family harmony, and bond with one another. Many respondents also felt that additional family time helps pass on important values and cultural traditions, provides the chance to teach morals and ethics, and alleviates emotional stress. When asked what would enable them to spend more time with their family, most respondents answered better time management skills. Some of the ideas below may take no more than 10 minutes from your tight schedule, but those 10 minutes will go a long way in giving your child the self-confidence and the sense of being loved that he needs to help him get through his own day. Hugs — Children need at least four hugs a day; whether it is a quick hug before they rush off to school, a long cuddle in bed at night, a big bear hug when they are feeling insecure, or simply a hug for no reason. Even the busiest parent can find time for a five second hug. Such show of affection can help stop bad behavior, remedy feelings of low self-esteem, allay worries, lift spirits, and put both children and parents in a calmer, more cooperative, and positive mood. Share with each other your experiences — Rather than interrogating your child with questions, practice this great conversation opener. Every night before heading off to bed, take turns in sharing each of your ‘highs' and ‘lows', where each family member has a turn in stating their happiest (best) and saddest (worst) part of the day. Try to resist the urge to find solutions, scold, or lecture; just listen. Love letters — Write short notes and slip them into a child's lunchbox, school bag, in the pocket of the school uniform, or leave one under their pillow. Reading your kind words will remind them that you are thinking of them all the time and wherever you may be and no matter how busy you are. One cute example is “Roses are red, violets are blue, and every day I think about you.” Family meal — Try to have at least one family meal where every family member is sitting together at the table. Eating together as a family helps children develop healthy eating habits, better communication, conversational, and language skills, and expands their vocabulary. One study conducted at Washington State University revealed that teens that eat a daily meal with their families are less likely to be depressed or smoke; they exhibit a greater love for learning, they develop good relationships with friends, and even drink less soda than teens who rarely share a meal with their families. Unplug — The computer or smart phone is no doubt the biggest time-waster for adults (and children) in the evening, as we tend to unwind at the end of the day by checking e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, What's App, and more. After dinner, make the effort to get off the internet, turn off the TV, and switch off your mobile phone. You can always check your e-mails from your office in the morning. Spend at least twenty minutes with your family talking, playing a short game, coloring, fixing a puzzle, or even telling jokes and tongue twisters. Story time — Younger kids love and thrive on listening to a story in bed at night with mom or dad. Studies show that small children who are routinely read to grow up with a love of books and an interest in reading that will extend well into adulthood. A participant in OREO's survey, Ngozi Megwa, president of Women Leadership Network, MasterCard Middle East and North Africa, said: “This inspiring initiative gave our employees a chance to step back and reflect on the time they spend away from their families owing to their professional duties. “OREO's initiative serves as a wake-up call for all of us, especially parents, to strive for a healthy, work-life balance and to commit more time to our families, especially our spouses and children.”
