A couple of years ago, my principal challenged parents to make the most of every day using a roll of 10 key calculator paper. I’m modifying the activity for you. Give yourself a gold star for participating :).
On a piece of paper, draw a line that is approximately 8 inches long. Try to divide that line into eight sections of equal length.
Draw hash marks at both ends of the line, and label the front “birth” and the end “death”. You now have a visual representation of the lifespan of your child, should your child live 80 years. Label the remaining hash marks (that separate your line into 8 sections) 10, 20, 30 … 70.
Now, cross out the last 3 sections and label them, “I’m being cared for or I’m gone”. Hard to think about, yes, but when your child is 50 you will likely be 75+ and will probably not be the voice of reason for your children any longer. Circle the 3 sections from the hash marks “20” to “50”. Label those sections “I might be trusted as a mentor… but I might not.” You should be left with 2 sections on your line.
Now, depending on how old your child is, cross out the years that have already passed. I’ve lost most of the 1st section for my 8 year old, a little more than the first with my 12 year old, and all of the first and all but a smidge of the second with my 18 year old.
How much time do you have left as a significant voice in the life of your child? My friends, Time Really Does Matter.
In Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 we’re told, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” My husband and I often think of this verse when we’re budgeting. Regardless of how you view the Bible, this idea can also apply to time. What if the verse read, “Where you spend your time, there your heart will be also.”, or alternately “Where your treasure is, there your time will be also.”
While I continue to struggle with time in my own life, I have learned a thing or two in my 18 years as a mom, wife, and educator. I had my oldest and youngest 10 years apart. I was a different kind of a mom with Bailey than I’ve been with Caden. I realize more fully how precious and important each day is.
Where do you spend your time?
- In front of the television or computer?
- Working (at the office or at home)?
- Commuting?
- Watching from a sideline?
- Playing with your children?
- Talking with your children, helping them learn and grow and develop character?
I truly believed I could do it all. I knew that my kids were good kids. They weren’t getting into “trouble” while I worked 50 hours outside of the home every week. But I could see, on that piece of calculator paper, that time was both limited and fleeting. I felt called to revisit the time I was investing in my children’s lives.
When you’re not with your children, they’re filling their time with something. It might not be a bad thing, but is it the best thing? Is it rich, language-filled thinking and exploring, or is it passive activity? Are they engaged and growing with you as their primary mentor and educator or are they biding time?
Join the conversation by replying using the button at the top of this post. How do you show your children that they are your priority? How do you invest time in their lives?
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