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Many parents wish that they had the ability to stay home and watch their children grow up, teaching them, caring for them, and just being available to them. But whether having both parents work is a necessity or a choice, being a good parent doesn't have to fall to the wayside.

Quality trumps quantity every time. Maybe you can't spend every waking minute with your child, but you can make the most of the time that you do have with them. Engage your child, ask about school, friends, and anything he or she seems to want to talk about. And make sure that you listen! If you're mentally tuning out on what your child is saying, or interrupting them (or allowing yourself to be interrupted) you're sending a signal to your child that not only are they not important to you, but that you can't be trusted. Don't think that you can fool your children, they're much more perceptive than we are. That isn't to say that they have to be your number one priority 100% of the time, but when you carve out time to spend just with them, make sure that you really are spending it with just them.

If you really don't have the time to sit and talk with your child, try to get them involved in what you're doing. Are you cooking? Ask them to help you cut the carrots (assuming they're old enough), or to tear the bread into breadcrumbs to make meatloaf. Are you doing bills? Unless your child is a whiz with numbers it's better to have them seal or stamp the envelopes.

Try to prioritize. You don't want to let housework or events slide entirely, but do you have to vacuum every day? Sometimes just let the dishes soak overnight and watch a movie with your kids. Not only will they see that their parents want to spend time with them, they'll see that they're more important to you than your flawless reputation.

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