It’s not the quantity of time that you spend with your children; it’s the quality that counts. Or is it?
Maybe you’ve heard that argument that it doesn’t matter how much time you spend with your children as long as your few moments together are of high quality. The question is, why do we have to choose between the virtues of quantity versus quality? We won’t accept that forced choice in any other area of our lives. So why is it only relevant to our children? Example: Let’s suppose you’ve looked forward all day to going to one of the finest restaurants in town, and when you get there the waiter brings you a menu and you order the most expensive steak dinner in the house. But when the meal arrives you see this tiny little piece of meat in the center of the plate about one-inch square. When you complain about the size of the steak, the waiter says, “Sir, I recognize that the portion is small, but that’s the finest corn-fed beef money can buy. And after all, it’s not the quantity that matters; it’s the quality that counts.” Well you would certainly object — and for good reason.
Both quality and quantity are important in many areas of our lives, including how we relate to children. In fact, the quantity versus quality argument might be a rationalization for giving our children neither.
This principle is not just good for your children, but can help you THRIVE in all your relationships!!
