Out-of-Body Experience
I can’t say that I have ever had an out-of-body experience… until today. You see, I have always wanted to get to the next age or season of life. When I was 5, I wanted to be 10. When I was 10, I wanted to be 20. Thus far, every next season has been a welcomed one. I was excited to go to college. I was excited to begin a career. I was excited to start a family. Today, however, stands apart. I am now officially the mother of a 16 year old. Not sure how this happened… minus the obvious detail of giving birth 16 years ago! This milestone does not seem possible.At Highpoint, we have coined the term “7000 days.” It is the number of days that your child is in your home from birth to college. In practical terms, you only have their attention for 5840 days. With the independence of driving, an entirely new world is rerouting their thoughts. If you have grown children, you know better than I do what new adventures the last 1160 days will hold!So, in honor of my firstborn’s birthday, here are 16 things that I wish I had known 16 years ago:
- Your walk with God is an absolute necessity in order for you to navigate each season of parenting.
- Don’t have your children change schools in high school, if at all possible.
- The quicker you deal with your own unhealthy patterns, the healthier your family will be.
- Make memories while they are joyful participants… the time passes quickly.
- Dinners together as a family always look better in the movies than in person. Prioritize the time together, but don’t have unrealistic expectations.
- Your children will grow closer together. Be patient.
- Start with a narrow funnel and give freedom as they earn it… especially in the realm of cell phones.
- Sports are a good way to keep some children busy, but they are overrated in our culture.
- Most of your problems with your children are really a parenting problem, not a kid problem.
- Not everyone gets compliant kids.
- Don’t bother comparing yourself to other parents.
- The parents of daughters have no idea how to parent boys… and vice versa.
- Like a dog, kids smell fear. Stop worrying about their future and enjoy the present.
- God knows exactly what He is doing when placing each child in each family.
- It’s not important what you do for your child, but what you teach them to do for themselves.
- Don’t expect your children to appreciate your investment anytime soon… that’s not why you parent, anyway.