Question:
I recently quit my job to stay at home with my 5-year-old. Is it too late to connect and bond with my child?

Answer:
It's never too late to improve the connection with your child. Don't look back and beat yourself up for what you "could have done." You did the best you could given the advice and resources you had at the time. Besides, children are very resilient. What's important is how closely connected you feel to your child and visa versa. If you feel that you need to increase the connection with your child, here's how:

• Start each day with 5 to 10 minutes of cuddle time, where you just sit and hold her, giving her the message that she's really special.
• Increase the quality and quantity of time you spend putting her to bed, since this is a special time to reconnect with your child as she makes the transition from a busy day to a restful night.
• Do special outings together where she gets the message that she's special. One of the most important messages you can give a child at any age is that you enjoy being with her.