Our children need time not stuff

We put too little store on family time and too much on material goods. Unicef paints a picture of a country that has got its priorities wrong - trading quality time with our children for “cupboards full of expensive toys that aren’t used”.

This is from a BBC News item that highlights the fact that the UK has come bottom in the European table when it comes to child well-bring.

I have so say that, when I watched this story on the news last night, I actually chuckled and said to my wife Rachel that we had yet another news article stating the bleeding obvious.

But then it struck me that, if this report is as bad as it seems, then what is obvious to me, clearly isn’t obvious to others. I’ve chosen to pursue a working life that maximises my time and involvement with my daughter Eloise. I want to be part of her life. I want to provide for her of course, but more than that I want to be there for her and with her. And this report clearly highlights that this isn’t normal.

Time will always be the more valuable investment in our kids than the things we buy for them. And I guess it’s always good to be reminded of that.

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