Spending time with your child is the most important thing you can do for them. You could give them the whole world every toy they ever desired, but those moments they connected with you, those times they felt like you understood them and truly enjoyed being with them, those are the moments both child and parent store in their heart.

I am a dad. I work an average of 40 hours a week and I love being home. When I am home, either from a day at work or on the weekend, my two kids and wife are always there. My wife is a stay at home mom, which is awesome, but I could probably count on my two hands the amount of times I have had to watch the kids by my self. I have even caught myself answering the phone on these rare days and telling people that my wife in not here and that I was babysitting. Babysitting, as If I’m watching someone else’s kids.

I admit to being a little scared to be home alone with them in the past. Certain thoughts would run through my mind; What do I do with them? What if they cry and only want mommy? How do I get the work done around the house with them climbing on my feet? Ironically it was the "What do I do with them?" question that brought me miles closer to my kids.

I am not as familiar with their routine as is my wife, so I feel like they need to be doing something all the time. If I know my wife will be home in three hours, I will try to plan it out. We will watch some Scooby-Do then either go outside and water the garden maybe ride on the swings or walk down to the lake to catch some sunnies. These times are always special to me and these are some of the things especially fishing that are really more of a Father son and daughter time.

This past time I was left to "baby-sit "my son I decided to try out one of the more mother son and daughter things to do. We decided to make some artwork! (not that these are gender specific activities, but my wife hates worms and is very creative) I used to really love making art myself, so to make it extra exciting for him I took out "Daddy’s special coloring sticks," (Chalk Pastels) a stretched canvas and an easel. Since my son is only three feet tall I set the easel all the way down to the children’s easel setting and laid a folded blanket for my knees. I made him feel like using my special coloring sticks was a big event.

When we started coloring we had no concept in mind just making colors and he was mesmerized at how brilliant the colors were and how easily the color was to slide across the canvas. Before long he began to see stuff in the shapes and that got his imagination going and he started to ask me to make more. It was awesome to work so close with him. As he imagined something he would ask me to draw it, and as I drew I could see the joy and delight on his face. As I drew Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron, his sister coming down a slide and mommy catching her, me holding him over my head in in my hand, Iron Hide, and another scene of him holding a baby - I got a glimpse into his beautiful little mind.

We had such a good time and though he will probably not remember it, I will. And those special moments help create a bond between me and my kids that will last forever. And I believe when you love your kids that way that helps them to form into loving people themselves. Not just because of this one experience, but because of many awesome moments, I am not as scared to watch my kids by myself. And as for the house work - there’s always tomorrow