The idea of slowing the pace in parenting seems to be catching on these days.  "The days of hyper-parenting are on the wane," says Carl Honore, author of Under pressure: Rescuing Our Children From the Culture of Hyper-Parenting. "I think the pendulum is now swinging in the other direction.  More and more families are yearning to put on the brakes, to back off, to stop treating child rearing like a competitive sport."

How can that be accomplished in your life?

Maybe you've bought into the lie that it is all about "quality time." Every parent wants quality time and that is what happens occasionally while you're have quantity time. That's what slowing down is all about.

Here are some practical ideas to facilitate a slow down.

• Let your child unwind after school. Kids are over-booked and over-scheduled. Just like you, they need time to "decompress."
• Spend more time outdoors enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Even in the winter you can enjoy a nature preserve. Bundle up and take a walk outside. There is something about being outside that is refreshing.
• Make it a priority to play together as a family. Choose a board game rather than something more high tech. The slower pace of the game will give you more time to interact with one another.
• If you are planning a family get-away, don't fill every hour of every day with activity. Have only one "adventure" each day.
• Choose a hobby that you and your kids can do together. Maybe it is - hunting, golf, baseball games, sewing, or scrapbooking. It is even better if the time is spent one-on-one.