Time well spent

“The best thing to spend on your children is your time.” – Louise Hart

It’s taken me four days to finally sit down and write this month’s newsletter, and honestly, I’m not bothered by the delay. Why? Because those days were spent doing something far more important - being present with my children.

For many parents across the UK, today marks the end of a long summer break as kids return to school. For me, it’s bittersweet. My children are back at school after spending just 17 of the 42 days of their holiday with me. As a dad after divorce, the reality is that I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like. But I’m not here to dwell on that, or on how “it’s not fair.” What matters is this: I am more present now as a father than I ever was before.

During the summer, I knew our time together was limited, and I made a choice to make every moment count. That’s why this newsletter is late. Instead of chasing deadlines, I chose to be in the moment - trampolining, swimming, geocaching, taking a holiday in Bournemouth, enjoying open-top bus adventures, and even starting a new business with my daughter. Yes, work happened somewhere in between, but my priority was spending those precious days with my children.

At the beginning of the summer, my daughter came to me and asked, “Dad, how can I earn some money for the summer?” She didn’t ask for money; she asked how she could earn it. That sparked an idea, reminding me of the lessons learnt in a book I read a few years back - Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki where learning about the rules of business at a young age provided so much more development and opportunity over simply "getting a job". We decided to explore how she could create something of her own, and soon enough, “Starbarks” was born - her very own doggy café that she launched at our local farmer’s market. She’s been baking homemade dog treats, serving “puppuccinos,” and even stocking her product at a local business. This little venture has not only taught her valuable skills in business, but it’s also shown her the joy of giving back, as a local dog shelter is now supportive partner in her venture.

Seeing this entrepreneurial spirit in my daughter has also inspired my son to explore how his passion for gaming and technology might turn into something that can build his future. It's a beautiful thing, watching and supporting them learn, grow, and develop into ever increasing independent people our world will be blessed to have.

We capped off the summer with a week in Bournemouth with family, soaking in every moment - from beach days and exploring new places to spending their hard-earned money on treats and memories that will last a lifetime.

So yes, this newsletter is a bit late, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I spent 17 days of the summer truly with my children. Louise Hart was right: “The best thing to spend on your children is your time.” Our children grow up fast, and for those of us who share custody, the time is even more fleeting. These moments - these days of laughter, learning, and just being present are more valuable than anything else. And that’s time well spent in my eyes.

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