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.
Family Friday: Kid's Big Questions Each Year
A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead
In the teenage years and beyond you will be so glad you made the effort to promote sibling friendship. One Piece At A TimeOne of the biggest challenges of power-decade parenting is that your life is pulled in a thousand different directions. Being intentional to build connection and character with your kids can feel like a losing effort. The ability to focus on one child at a time seems as impossible as wrangling your squirming toddler to get their diaper on. In my early parenting days, I got overwhelmed and in my own head trying to shape and teach my kids in too many areas at once. Once I realized that each stage could have a particular focus, my wife and I felt more confident we could let certain issues go. The freedom to be released from "we aren't doing enough" was amazing. Focused PrioritiesHere is a general summary of our priorities over 15 years. I think it's a good list, but it doesn't have to be yours (and it can change). The win is having an area of focus for each of your kid's life seasons. You'll be a better parent and your kids will feel relieved that every area isn't as weighty all the time. Here is the where & when of the Robinson Family's focus over the years:
Big Questions Each YearAnother way to focus your effort as a parent is by looking for ways to answer the question each child is naturally asking. I picked up this list some years back and it has held true throughout all our seasons of family. Am I safe? (0-1)
Am I able? (1-2) Am I ok? (3-4) Do I have your attention? (K-1st) Do I have what it takes? (2nd-3rd) Do I have friends? (4th-5th) Who do I like? (6th) Who am I? (7th-8th) Where do I belong? (9th) What do I believe? (10th)
How can I matter? (11th)
What will I do? (12th) Whatever stage your kids are in, free yourself up by focusing on a couple of important connection points. You have plenty of time. See you next Friday, |
Power-Decade Parenting
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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