My older daughter has two children. They have school, swim practice, riding lessons, and homework. They are always running from activity to activity. Her mother-in-law and I were talking about this the other day and how different parenting is now. There’s hardly an hour of down time anymore. I got to thinking about that. I can tell you exactly why that is and, it’s not really much different after all.
When Daughter #1 was five years old, I married Hubby #2. He was in his first year of medical school. I wanted him to study at home so I made sure the house was quiet. But you couldn’t keep a five year old quiet very easily so we spent every spare moment on the run. We went to the library and on bike rides, to the park and to the mall, to movies and to museums….anything to make for a quiet environment for my husband to study. My daughter was raised thinking that’s how you raise your kids.
There are so many activities for kids to be involved in these days. I think parents are pressured to make sure their kids can keep up and compete with others. Some utilize after school programs as a solution for day care issues. I wish I could tell them all to slow down. Take a breath. Stay in their jammies all day and snuggle on the sofa with good books or a movie marathon once in a while. Let kids be kids. Let them go outside and play. Unplug them from electronics. Reward them with experiences instead of stuff…or worse yet, food. Tell them you love them. Tell them often. Make memories by baking cookies or creating something beautiful together.
I understand it’s hard. Parents burn the candle at both ends all the time. It’s hard for them to find the energy to do one more thing. It’s hard to find the time to nurture your kids, let alone yourself, your spouse, and your marriage. I don’t envy young parents today. I’m glad I’m going to be back here to help more. I’d like to make things a little easier for my kids….help them get the rest they need so they can be even better parents and spouses. Right now they are awesome. Imagine what they could do after a few naps or date nights!
This is probably the busiest week of the year for most of us. We are busy preparing the “perfect holiday” when in all actuality, we should be preparing ourselves FOR the perfect holiday. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and commercialism. I missed Hanukkah this year as it occurred before my arrival. (My family is blended and celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.) Yesterday, after a very long day at my grand daughter’s swim meet, I told them we were all going out to have ice cream for dinner, my treat. My emphasis is experiences before stuff. They’ll remember ice cream for dinner as a family much longer than some little tchotchke I might buy for them. As we count down the last days before Christmas, let’s step away from the busyness of the season and remember why we are celebrating in the first place.
❤️
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 NIV