Bethany mesmerized by a colorful Christmas tree
Several times a year, Clint and I take each of our children out to spend one on one time with them. We try to do this once a month, but delays happen due to our schedules. We take them to a restaurant and then do some shopping. This is a time where we focus solely on that child and listen to their hearts. We give positive feedback on their strong areas and give encouragement on their weak areas. We ask them how we as parents are doing and ask for areas we can improve. We usually buy them something they need as well as a small "want." We have done this since Joshua was born and still include our adult children. Our children gave these dates a name: "My Time Out with Mom and Dad."
This month, we took our children to the Christmas Mouse, a year round, beautifully decorated Christmas themed store. For fun, we led each of them blindfolded into the shop! Well, first, we had them remove the blindfolds to see the Wendy's Drive Thru next door! LOL! Then, we covered their eyes again and led them into the store, and put them in front of a tree. As we led them in, we told them stories about how I use to lead the blind. As they looked around the shop, we told them stories about Midge, their grandmother, who loved the store. We then let them pick out one ornament that would remind them of their night out with us every time they saw it. It was so much fun for Clint and I to watch them go through the large store, upstairs and down, to find just the right ornament. Our children have thanked us over and over for doing this for them.
No matter how good you think you are as a leader the people around you will have all kinds of ideas for how you can get better. So for me, the most fundamental thing about leadership is to have the humility to continue to get feedback and to try to get better - because your job is to try to help everybody else get better. Dr. Jim Kim
