This week’s parent connect comes from a more personal angle and I am sure most of you will relate. This roller coaster ride of parenting is just that, a time of highs and lows, grinds and ease. I know for my family it has been a wild ride and we have tried to enjoy it as best we can. We go and go and try and slow and slow, but sometimes we get so caught up that we miss the transition.
For us we had a huge transition this weekend. We have moved into our new house and there was some work that needed to be done around the yard. Traditionally, this would be very hard with 4 kids at the house and one of us would have to stay inside or constantly check and make sure they were not destroying where we were not.
All of the sudden after an hour of working we realized, what is going on? We (Leslie and I) just worked in the yard for an hour with no interruption, no tears, no diapers to change. We just paused and thought man we entered a new season. Our kids are growing up and fast. For a brief moment we enjoyed this new time of freedom. Yes we immediately went in to check and make sure Rhettleigh wasn’t tied up and the twins were not making something in the oven, but all was well. This was truly the entering of a new season.
You see there was a nine-year stretch where we bought diapers. Think about that, nine years we were buying and changing diapers. That is a long season. The average NFL season is 3.5 years and we almost tripled that. Now we are entering a season of a little more parenting freedom. Sometimes as parent’s we almost feel tied to a constant life of children and yes this is part of parenting, but for us it was a tiring time. We asked things like does it ever get easier? Will they ever be able to fend for themselves? How many more diapers will we change? Will they ever sleep through the night? And the list goes on.
PARENT’S you are not alone. Parenting is hard, but it like life is a constant changing of the seasons. Some seasons are harder than others, but you will get through them and you need to enjoy them. With the good and the bad they are only for a short time and our kids grow up. We still have a while before our kids leave the house, but we must remember to enjoy every part of parenting. From taking the kids to practice, to making lunches, to the endless piles of laundry, to praying with our kids, to letting them grow up; all of this is a season.
I would encourage you to enjoy them. Pause and reflect on the seasons you are leaving and dream about what the future season holds, because if you don’t you will miss it.
As parent’s we are called to train up our children. It is our job to lead and guide them in the ways of the Lord. This is most important and every season brings new challenges and different excitement.
I pray as you read this you will reflect on the different seasons you have gone through and look forward to what is yet to come. It is a great privilege to get the title of MOM or DAD and you should relish this. This should be priority number one.
Keep up the great work of parenting and remember you are not alone. You are not the only one who has gone through what you are going through. Leslie and I are here if you ever need advice, someone to talk to, someone to pray with, or just someone to listen to (she is much better than me, but I will try).
So as the spring begins to unfold and baseball and softball and dance and school get busy, remember to ENJOY AND REMEMBER this season.
We hope you have a great day and thanks for reading.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul