I spent an accumulated total of ninety-seven minutes singing nursery rhymes and making animal noises. I washed one load of baby clothes and wiped spit-up out of my hair three times. I spent an accumulated total of four hours breast feeding in that very recliner. Babies take time. The Bible tells us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
Time is a treasure.
Where we invest our time, our heart will follow. As our children mature, the demands on their time become more complex. While my two year old is glued to my hip, my ten year old is busy with school and gymnastics and friends. If we value our relationships with our kids, it's imperative to carve time out of busy schedules to be together. Play, don't preach.