The Working Parent's Guide to Family Bonding

Whether you are the sole financial provider, or one of two working parents, or a single parent trying to make ends meet, working parents have a unique problem. How can we balance work with family time while still getting the most out of both? How can we be successful at our jobs and still have a close bond with our children? While it will take some effort, there are a few simple things that working parents can do to ensure a strong bond with their children.

Greet them at the door

Whether you're picking your child up from a daycare or just coming home to a full house, your children are going to be excited to see you walk through the door. You may be tired from a long day, but your kids may not understand that. If you need to take a moment to recharge before getting out of the car and going inside, do it - but make sure that when you walk through that door, you are ready for at least 5 minutes of high-energy hugs and giggles. Let your kids know that you are as excited to see them as they are to see you.

Leave your baggage outside

Too many times, we let our daily stresses spill over into our home lives. Don't do it - at least not around your kids. Whether you were reprimanded by your boss or got into an argument with a co-worker, try to let that stress go when you come home. If you allow your daily baggage to affect your mood at home, your kids will be missing out on the fun, happy parent that they need. Children may also mistakenly believe that they are the cause of your grumpiness, which can negatively affect their self-esteem. Don't put them through that.

Spend one-on-one time

This is especially important in families with more than one child. Kids need to know that they are important, and there is no better way to express that importance than by spending a little quality time one-on-one. It can be something as simple as reading a bedtime story together, or playing a game of catch, or even snuggling on the couch watching a favorite television show. Children thrive on closeness and individual attention - give it to them.

Spend time together as a whole family

While individual time is important, it's also important to bond and play as a whole family. Institute a family game or movie night, where the whole family sits down together to have fun as a group. Weekend family outings can also be a great way to reconnect as a family. Be sure that whatever activity you choose, it's something that the whole family can enjoy. Just because you may be interested in the museum of military history does not mean that your eight-year-old daughter will have a good time.

Turn off the cell phone

Unless your job requires you to be on-call for emergencies, turn your cell phone off when you get home. If something can wait until morning, let it wait. Your boss may be impressed by your dedication during your off-hours, but your kids will not. In the same token, avoid bringing paperwork or other work home. Sometimes it can't be helped, and you'll need to bring some work home with you. In those instances, still try to keep work separate from family time - don't allow a phone call from work to interrupt a bedtime story.

Attend school functions/recitals/games/performances as often as possible

Sometimes things come up, and it's not always possible to attend every single school play or art show. But whenever possible, you should make an attempt to be there, especially if it's important to your child. She may not care if you come to the school open houses every quarter, but if she's excited about playing the lead in the school play, make every attempt to be there. If you can reschedule that evening meeting or go in to work early the next day to get caught up, do so.

Don't neglect your parenting duties in lieu of "being a friend"

When you work long hours and spend a lot of time away from your kids, it may be tempting to want to "be friends" and leave the bad guy stuff to a daycare provider or the other parent. But this can actually damage your relationship with your kids. Children need guidance and boundaries, and even though you may want to be the "good guy," it's more important to be a role model that your children can respect. If one parent gets stuck with all the discipline, children will come to understand family roles that may not be ideal. Additionally, a parent who is too lenient toward his or her children may actually lose respect in those children's eyes.