One of my favorite country songs, “You’re Gonna Miss This,” by Trace Adkins, has such an amazing message about how quickly the years fly by. The lyrics are about a young girl racing to the finish line in life whose reminded by her mom to slow down just a bit, look around and enjoy her place in life…

You’re gonna miss this. You’re gonna want this back. You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast. These are some good times, so take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you’re gonna miss this…

As I sat in my car listening to the song I realized that maybe I need the same reminder. In fact, maybe we all do. While we’re rushing through trying to survive the crazy, tumultuous teen years, we may not realize it now… but, for many of us, we’re going to miss these fleeting years.

Maybe it’s time we dial it down a notch, relish in the little things, embrace all the positives in our own lives and our children’s lives and work toward removing the negative influence that robs us of our energy, spirit, hope and quality time with our kids.

And, even though there may be times during our kids’ teen years that we’d rather forget (let’s face it, some memories just aren’t worth cherishing), there are plenty of things we will miss, including all the “firsts,” and all the “lasts.”

Their first dance, first date, first kiss, and their first boyfriend or girlfriend. The first time they drove a car, their first job, and the very first time you got a glimpse of the person you’re raising them to be. And, even more sentimental than the firsts… the lasts. The last time they walk the halls of their middle school, the last time you drive them to high school and their last high school football game. So many memories that deserve to be savored and yet, the teen years are so fast and furious that we often forget to hit the pause button long enough to soak in the precious moments before us.

Many experts agree that the key to enjoying these precious days with our kids (and in our own lives as well) is to teach ourselves to live in the moment. Sounds cliche’ I know, but there’s some truth here. In the midst of our wildly busy days, imagine how amazing it would feel to be truly present in our children’s lives and take note of the special moments as they’re happening as opposed to reflecting back years later in a photo album or a video.

if you’re on board with the challenge like I am, here are three simple ways to add more joy to your life and take in the view while improving your relationship with your kids.

Stop Worrying About the Future

As Mark Twain said, “I have known many great troubles, but most of them never happened.” As parents, we all worry to some degree. It’s simply inherent in our DNA. We worry about our children’s future, whether they’ll make the right choices now that they have more freedom, whether they’ll do well in school, if they’ll fit in, and whether they’ll surround themselves with the right friends. Our worries are endless. But, there are steps we can take to minimize our worry, feel more relaxed as a parent and live more in the moment.

For starters, we can choose to be involved in our kids’ lives, ask more questions, and find out what’s on their minds. The more connected we are with our kids and the more they communicate with us about what they’re thinking and their choices, the less likely we are to worry. Secondly, take note of the difference between fact and fear. Ask yourself if you have a legitimate reason to worry or if your worries are simply unfounded. Media coverage filled with news of abductions, murders, and violence is enough to send any parent over the edge leaving us worried about a host of things that are likely never to happen. Lastly, focus on your own life. After so many years of being our children’s caretaker, sometimes it’s hard for parents to let go and give their kids the freedom they need to mature and grow. The less hyper-focused you are in their lives, the more relaxed and calm you’ll be about yours.

Put Perspective Back Where it Belongs

No matter how hard we to try to control our children’s lives and their choices, they want and need us to back off. By the time they reach the teen years they’re itching for more freedom. Unfortunately, giving them added age-appropriate freedom often paves the way for mistakes on their part and more worry on our part, which inevitably steals little pieces of joy from our day and prevents us from being present in our kids’ lives. But, we need to keep things in perspective… they will make mistakes. It’s pretty much inevitable. it’s how they learn and mature.

As parents, we need to calm ourselves from the constant, exhausting fear by understanding that they’re learning, they’re venturing into new territory and they’re bound to make a few mistakes along the way. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with jumping in to help our kids, especially if they’re in danger, but there should be limits. it’s our job as a parent to prepare them for the future and we won’t be doing them any favors in the long run if we hold their hand throughout the teen years. By understanding that you’re doing what’s right for your kids, you’ll not only allay your own fears and worry, but it will also lay the foundation for a much happier, calmer and connected relationship between you and your child.

Vow to Spend Quality Time with Your Child Every Day

How many times have you had conversations with your kids while thinking about something you forgot to do or looking at your texts on your phone? Multi-tasking, which sounded pretty darn awesome when the term was coined, is actually creating barriers between us and our kids. These days nearly every mom I know is what I’d consider a “super mom.” They have the uncanny ability to juggle eight million projects simultaneously without skipping a beat. Heck, I’m totally guilty of it myself. But, in the long run, our amazing balancing act isn’t helping us build a strong relationship with our kids at a time in their life when they need our attention the most.

As difficult as it may be, slow down a bit. Let the laundry pile up for a day, run the errand tomorrow or make the call to your friend later. Our kids need our undivided attention and, you may not realize it, but you need it too. The more connected you are with your kids the more peace it will bring you. Even though teenagers are notorious for being constantly on the go, vow to carve out a few minutes of quality time with your child every day. Whether it’s sitting with them for ten minutes before they dash out the door for school, grabbing a quick lunch on a Saturday or sitting with them in their bedroom for a few minutes before they go to sleep. Listening, and I mean really listening to your kids, paying attention to what they have to say, making eye contact and enjoying their company will do more good for your peace of mind than any errand you have on your to-do list.

In a fast-paced world where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to unplug, living in the moment is something that may take some time. Practice savoring even a few precious minutes every day. Take in the sounds, awaken your senses to what’s around you, tune in to what’s really important and give yourself the freedom to slow down… without the typical parental guilt. Being more conscious of life as it happens will not only make you a much happier person, it will have a resounding and rewarding impact on the relationship you have with your kids.

Parents: You're Gonna Wish These Days Hadn't Gone By So Fast