A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead
When you feel like all you've been doing as a parent is trudging uphill, that's your sign to stop and have more fun with your kids
The GuiltThe summer schedule is descending, and power-decade parents everywhere are now caught in the emotional battle. Yeah, for more time with kids, and Oh-No, for what to do with all the time with the kids. The increase in the amount of time together during the summer days brought out a lot of my head trash as a parent. I was more afraid of the things we were getting wrong than what I might be doing right with my kids. Are they a good friend or are they mean? I know that I shouldn't operate this way, but I'll admit that I internalize my kid's behaviors and choices as a reflection of my role as a dad. I've been working on it for years. It is one of the easiest parent pitfalls we face and will trap you if you aren't careful. When my oldest daughter didn't try hard enough on the soccer field, I took it personally and remember letting her have it. She was only 6. 😞 When we dragged my son kicking and screaming from the playground, I recall being embarrassed as other parents watched on. 🥴 When my youngest daughter refused to eat her dinner in front of our family, I felt a sense of failure, even though my mom says I did it too. 😐 The GraceRaising kids, especially in the 3-13 season you are in, there are endless moments where you need to experience or give grace. Here's the truth about your everyday life right now:
After 2 decades of being a dad, the more I regret not practicing grace often enough at home. Here's what we learned through the struggle of it all:
If you need a visual to think about how grace is applied in your home, I suggest you grab the four-legged stool, tucked underneath your kitchen counter. Think of practicing it like this: There are 4 types of relationships in most homes where giving grace can be transformational for your family. Leg 1: Grace To Your KidsIt looks different in every season of their lives...
Leg 2: Grace Between SiblingsLet's just say this one is difficult, but ...
Leg 3: Grace With Your SpouseThis is often the toughest of all, but you can ...
Leg 4: Grace For YourselfEvery single parenting season is brand new, so ...
In SummaryWithout one of the 4-Legs of Grace, your home will get wobbly fast. But a family that habitually practices giving grace, makes it possible to have:
Which leg do you find most difficult in your home right now? I'd love to hear and learn more about it if you'll hit reply and email me back! Finley |
Helping propel moms & dads of 3 to 13 year-olds to invest in their power-decade of parenting. Father of 3 teenagers and pastor of 20 years turned digital writer.
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