“Daddy, cut your phone off and talk to me”. Those were the words of my two year old daughter one evening while I was sitting on the couch with her flicking through emails and strolling through social media. I remember, pausing and feeling struck to the heart. “What kind of father am I?”, I thought to myself. My daughter just basically had to tell me to spend time with her.

I know you probably don’t want to admit it, but if you have kids you have probably been there before. Heck, you’ve probably been there with your spouse also. I know I have. Its so easy to get caught up with being consumed by work, tasks, goals, social media and the list goes on. My brain is going to explode just thinking about it! Here’s a hard question I want to ask you though. What good is all your hard work if your family feels emotionally poor and overlooked because of you? Ive learned that anyone can give my family a physical gift, but nothing can take the place of eye contact, hugs, kisses, affirmation, and attention at home. We aren’t always going to be perfect, but we can be better. Would you take this challenge of being better with me?

“Attention over position”- Just because we are there doesn’t always mean our families know we care. Lets not just sit in proximity. Lets strive to give our complete attention to our family. Lets be physically and mentally present.

“Death to the scroll”- This is what scrolling the internet in front of anyone screams, “I am bored with you and disinterested in anything you have to say”! Yes, its that bad. I know, I know…I have to work on this also, but lets put down the phone and embrace what we have in front of us. Lets be real, that’s what the people connected to the other side of what we are doing on the internet are probably up to. Their living in the moment and so should we.

“Live A Little”- Game night anyone! Too hot for that? Lets go for a drive, get Ice cream and sing “Into The Unknown” from the movie Frozen. Too long of a drive? Lets play hide and seek! The house may get messed up a little, but I’m going to cherish these times. Moms, dads, husbands, wives…The world is tough enough, lighten up a little. Your heart might just get three sizes bigger.

Written by: Miguel Ojeda