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Quality Time With Dad - Tips for Muslim fathers

It has been estimated that working fathers spend about 3 minutes a day
with their children.Fathers who abandon their families, fathers who rarely
see their children because of divorce, and fathers who are busy and have
very little or nothing to do with the raising of their children are
common.

Dad gets up early, takes the long drive to work, gets off late, takes the
long drive home, and gets home very tired. He just wants to have supper,
relax a little, and go to bed so that he can repeat the same routine the
next day. Every now and then, he tells himself that he will spend more time
with his children tomorrow.

But Muslims aren't like that, you say. Perhaps. How much time do you spend
with your children in the day? Not just in the same house, but together
--- really together.

"Cats in the Cradle", by Harry Chapin tells the sad story of a boy who
always tries to spend time with his father, but always finds him too busy.
When the boy grows up and the father gets older, the father always wants
to spend time with his son, but his son always has other things to do.

Quality time spent between a father and his children is essential for both
the parent and the children. The children need to know that their father
loves and cares for them, and the father needs to be careful that he
doesn't lose his relationship with his children by neglect.

Tips to Improve Father-Child Relationship

There are several ways a father can spend quality time with his children
and develop a relationship with them. Even if he is extremely busy, he can
probably free up enough time to do some of these things.

1. Show your children in simple ways that you love them.
Some fathers try to appeal to their children by showering them with gifts
rather than giving of themselves. This may cause more harm than good. The
simple example of Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is much
better. When his daughter Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) would come
to him, the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to stand up, kiss
her, take her hand, and give her his seat. Later in life, this personal
type of affection will be much more memorable to children than receiving a
gift that anyone could have given them.

2. Tell or read your children stories on some nights before bed.
There are lots of excellent Islamic stories and books available that you
can use, or you can make up your own. A twist on this idea is to ask your
children to make up stories to tell you.

3. Teach your children to make wudu and pray with you
If at home, praying together as a family- Jamat(congregation) is better
than praying alone. Children love to call azan. Make the youngest one the
salat manager at home, taking care of prayer rugs, timing, and inviting
everyone to salat.

4. Take your children to the masjid with you
Once your child is old enough to know how to behave in the masjid, this is
an excellent way for you to build a relationship with them as both a
father and a Muslim.

5. Play with your children
You could play ball, color pictures, build toy houses from blocks, or do
whatever they like.

6. Let your children help you with simple tasks
Allow them to help you carry in the groceries, make dinner, or mow the
yard. Children often get great joy from doing things that adults consider
work.

7. Take the family to for a picnic
Spend time with your children playing Frisbee, passing a ball, or pushing
them in the swings. Your children will cherish this special time together
as a family.

8. Help your children with their homework
Show them that you are truly interested in their education and life by
asking them what they did in school and looking at their books, projects,
and assignments with them.

9. Have regular meals as a family
It is very important that the family get together and have meals, so they
may talk about each others days and issues.

10. Use driving time with your children
Don't just turn on the news and forget your children when they are in the
car with you. Talk or joke with them, or sing Islamic songs together.

11. Give your small children a bath sometimes
Usually, mothers bathe the children, but bath time is an excellent
opportunity for fathers to be with their kids. Let them splash around and
play a little more than mum does.

12. Be available for your children
Let them know that you are there for anything they want to discuss. If you
are not available to talk to your children, somebody else probably will
be, and it may be the wrong kind of person. A good way of getting to know
your children better as individuals is to take them out one at a time for
eating, conversation, or some other event.

13. Practice talking with your child, not at him/her
Since the father often takes the main responsibility for disciplining the
children, it is very easy for fathers to merely become order-givers rather
than parents and companions of their children. Spend some time listening,
rather than talking.

We only have one chance to be with our kids before they grow up. If we
want them to love us and respect us when we are old, we have to build
those relationships while they are young.

Fathers usually don't have the time to devote to their children that
mothers do. But if we make the little time we have with our children
quality time, we still might be able to build enduring relationships with
them before it's too late.

By Ibrahim Bowers

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