A question to the 'older' family guys

[MetalDog]

Thank you, sir.  And I dig those slippers.

[Centurion40]

Great advice, Metal.

Yeah man, very Yoda-like!

[Longdan]

Yoda?  This is Yoda on New Years Eve:
"DRUNK!? Will you tell I am If DRUNK!!!!"

[Sparhawk]

I'm hearing this said in different ways but "keep it in the present". Of course everyone likes to look forward to what you are going to do together but what is most important is what you are doing now even if it isn't as glamorous as what you might like to do. I heard it said once that it takes at least ten minutes a day of one on one interaction to build a relationship. That's real eye contact time. Make that happen, squeeze your personal time, you can relax when you are an empty nester. I want my children to desire my time when they are older and that can only happen if I make sacrifices of my own time now. Most of important of all is to remember that "relartionships with your children are more important than financial success".
There you are... my thoughts on what brings me happiness.

Sparhawk

[Longdan]

That is nail on the head stuff.  If you are not interested in spending time with your kids
do not expect them to develop any interest in spending time with you.