Australian parents currently rate achieving work-family balance as their greatest parenting challenge. Currently, 71% of Australian parents say they have difficulty finding time to do things they enjoy with their children.

So what are key relationship-builders to focus on when you are busy and life is full on?

A number of different studies show children and young people want three types of interactions with their parents:

Family rituals such as reading to children in bed, shared mealtimes and celebrations. Some activities may come and go but rituals by definition are cut in stone. One-on-one interactions are vital for relationship building. Whether it is playing a game with a child or having a coffee with a teenager make sure you regularly spend some time with each of your children on their own. This goes double for middle children or those having difficulties in their lives. Down-time so that spontaneous and fun interactions can occur. Family holidays and lazy Sundays provide opportunities to connect on an informal basis with children. This is particularly important for fathers who tend to communicate best when having some shared fun with their son or daughter. The challenge for busy people is to carve out some time for these important relationship-building opportunities. Those people who can successfully balance two spheres of work and family use similar skills at home to those they use at work such as prioritising, delegating and planning ahead. Make family activities a priority and plan around them rather than fitting them in at end of day or week when you are tired. It also helps if you get support from home and also have some support and recognition at work that you have a family at home that needs your energy and attention. www.parentingideas.com.au

Doesn’t happen very often does it? In fact, while I was writing this, I couldn’t recall when I had experienced it. I’m sure I must have yet it would have been so long ago, I can’t remember.

Let me tell you what happened this week…

I belong to a well-known trade exchange which I have found very useful for my business. I wanted to purchase a suitcase from a particular store which usually takes trade dollars. From time-time store will limit use of trade dollars if they have reached their maximum for month. Anyhow I quickly discovered this wasn’t going to be my lucky day.

I walked in and assistant who was sitting down behind counter (and remained there), didn’t smile. She barely acknowledged me with what looked like a scowl. I had interrupted her reading time. (She was so busy, there was no-one in store). I then politely (yes I can be polite sometimes) asked her if they were accepting trade dollars as I wanted to purchase a suitcase. She turned around to owner who was sitting behind her doing some bookwork and repeated my question. The owner stayed seated, didn’t look up and told her assistant “No”.

The assistant then relayed to me that “we are not accepting trade dollars at moment, but we have good deals for cash”.

She remained seated all that time. I didn’t answer and walked straight out front door with my cash sitting in my purse.

No matter how good their “cash” deals were going to be, if I was going to spend my hard-earned money anywhere, it definitely would not be with them!

The ‘Colour- blind to service’ Copy Centre I had spent thousands of dollars with a printing company over a couple of years. A couple of times I was told by one of staff, when they’ve been snowed under “Mary’s too busy to speak with you at moment, I’ll have to get her to call you back when she’s got more time”.

It was same company who sent me a Christmas card with an invoice inside it!

Whenever I had to pick up my order, business owner would whinge about how hard business was…any wonder why?

Needless to say I didn’t remain with them.