So last week, I received a spiritual impression that I need to try to be more engaged with my children. I knew it was the truth—I’d let myself get so caught up in what I want to do, and what I want to accomplish. When I get overwhelmed with my children—or my goals—I tend to retreat (usually into the computer).

Which doesn’t help anything.

After a really rough start to the week, I think I’m finally starting to do better. Yeah, the television was still on a lot of the morning, but this time I was sitting next to them or holding them and interacting with them. We finally turned off the television and went to look for the barking dog (out the window). And I didn’t touch the computer once from the time we came home from preschool to the time the kids went down for quiet time.

No, it hasn’t been a perfect day—there has still been some yelling and whining and man, how do you get them to stop hitting one another?!, but it’s still been the best day of the week.

About time I took my own advice .

How do you make an effort to be “engaged” with your children?