Dennis Rainey: Have you wasted time with your children recently?

Guest: I'll never forget the time my dad took me with him on a business trip and we got to spend the night together in the van. And I still remember that feeling of security. I loved it.

Dennis Rainey: It's easy for parents to forget that something small like sleeping in a van can be a powerful experience for their children. The statesman Charles Francis Adams underestimated the importance of a fishing trip he took with his son. Historians have found an entry in his diary that read. "Went fishing with my son today - a day wasted."

His son's diary reveals a different perspective. His son wrote, "Went fishing with my father - the most wonderful day of my life."
Isn't it interesting how a little boy's perspective can be so different from his dad's?

One final thought. Why don't you take some time out of your busy schedule to get alone with your child. Spend a day with an activity or two that you enjoy together. If you're tempted to think of it was a day wasted, remember: it may be the most wonderful day of your child's life.

I'm Dennis Rainey, and that's Real FamilyLife.