What is the problem? We become worn and weary after just a couple days. We have wonderful plans for the summer of visiting with friends, going to the Zoo, or amusement parks and by the third day of the break we wonder when do they go back.
As parents we have high expectations that we can have the perfect family life even when everybody is running in several different directions. Our family was guilty of this. We had cheerleading/football in the fall, basketball in the winter and softball in the spring. Not to mention all of the school activities and church activities. By the time summer would come along we would be wore out with kids that were used to be kept busy and kept on a schedule. This is unrealistic to maintain, especially if there are more than one or two children involved. Different ages, different genders, and so on. It wears out the family and then when there is a break you are so tired and so weary having relaxing family time seems impossible.
Children learn by their environment. If the environment they are in is in constant motion that is what they will crave. The same is true for the opposite, if the environment is constantly relaxed they will crave that. What is best is a happy medium.
A suggestion on lightening the load, so to speak, would be have your children choose one sport or one activity outside of church and school. Then you prioritize. This also helps the kids focus on what they want to do. This helped with our youngest daughter that is our athletic one. She wanted to be the best cheerleader, the best basketball player and the best softball player. The problem was from being constantly on the go, she wasn't that great and any. Now she is focused on softball and has been doing quite well. She even made the JV team at school this past year. Another thing we try to do is have a family night. Nobody spends the night all the kids are home and we deliberately do something together as a family. It can be watching a movie, playing a board game, catching fireflies, whatever.
Sometimes, it's not just our schedules that have us worn and weary. Sometimes it is life and circumstance. In the times we are facing today with the volatile economy and jobs being hard to come by, it is easy to pick up heavy burdens. For that I encourage you to turn to the Lord.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and the burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30
Just as with our children we have to change our perspective. We have to get where we need to be.
I know as a wife, a mom and a student that I have to MAKE time for God. Being in the Word and being in touch with God is the only way to keep things under control. With the trials our own family has gone through we are unable to comprehend how those without God in their lives can get through the storms.
