Quality vs. Quantity

As we think about spending time with our kids, there are two schools of thought. One says we have to spend "quality" time with our kids, and the other says that we have to spend "quantity" time with our kids. In other words, one group says make it good, meaningful time and the other says just make it a lot of time and it doesn't really matter what you are doing. As I look at kids and families, I don't see that there is any difference between the two. In fact, I think without one you cannot have the other. What do I mean?

To quote one of my favorite movies, "let me 'splain, no we don't have time, let me sum up." (Inigo Montoya, Princess Bride) 


What is quality time anyway? What does it mean to spend quality time with someone? Well, I wasn't sure so I looked it up. Where you ask? Only on the most reliable source on planet earth...Wikipedia. And according to the all knowing Wiki quality time is "time spent with a loved one that is in some way important, special, productive or profitable." So I have to ask, what makes something one of those things? I am not sure I know the answer. Is it possible to know what is going to be special to your kids before you do it? Is it possible to plan what things are going to leave great memories? 


For instance, one day I decided to go for a walk in the woods with my kids and my camera. They could play and I could take pics. I thought it would really just be a normal day where nothing important or special or productive took place. But it turned out to be a great memory with my boys that I hadn't planned. Not that you can't plan great things but sometimes those special moments are spontaneous and happen when we least expect them. So, I think to have quality time with our families we have to have quantity time as well. When we are there for a large portion of their life, things that we didn't expect to happen can become quality moments with our kids. 


So there is no way to have quality time without quantity time. If you only have time for your kids when you plan it out to be a great memory, then you will miss out on the little moments that make all the difference. Those small things may seem small but in reality they are huge. I was planting flowers the other day and noticed that some of the seeds were about the size of a grain of sand and yet I knew that when that plant grew and a flower bloomed from it, it will make a huge impact in my yard. If you want to have a huge impact on your kids, don't limit yourself to "quality" time. Instead, let's begin to spend quantity time with our kids and see what the impact will be.