Intentional Parenting

I feel like I’ve been struggling lately. I have not been parenting with intention, just kind of floating through the days. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE having my kids home. But I feel like I am in a rut.

It’s the same thing every single day. Wake up. Argue about getting out of bed. Breakfast on your own. Bible reading. Argue about how much school stuff needs to happen. Deal with Remy’s tantrums. Deal with teenage hormones. Deal with lethargy. Yell at someone. Get yelled at.

Oh, and don’t forget to make lunch. Put the laundry in or take it out. Entertain a toddler. Consider exercising. Figure out what’s for dinner. Attempt a meal plan for the week. Order groceries for pick up. Shower? Doubt it.

I’m not complaining. Really. I am not. This is only a season. I know it won’t last. In August, Reagan and Riley go back to a sticks and bricks school. I’ll miss them when it’s just me.

I am also acutely aware that we have five years left with Reagan. 5! That’s nothing. I do not want to spend our time stressed out and fighting over silly stuff.

Recently I completed a Bible study on Intentional Parenting – via the Bible app. I loved it. It’s a quick 5-day study. It got me thinking about what the kids will remember about living here. When they are older, perhaps telling their future spouses about their childhood, how will they describe it? Will the fun times stick out? Or will the stress and angst? Will they describe it as a loving, Christian home?

Ecclesiastes 3.1-4 says there is a time for work and a time for play. I remind myself that they are kids… and they should be having fun. It does not need to be boring school all day. We can be silly and take breaks. They are schooling at home now; they should be able to float in and out of it during the day.

I want to parent with intention. I want to be cognizant of the memories we are making. I want to raise the kids with a heavenly outlook, that is with heaven as the ultimate goal. All the “stuff” here is only important if it helps with the final goal. All else is vanity, as Solomon points out in the book of Ecclesiastes.

It seems that whatever stage of parenting you are in, someone will tell you “Don’t worry, it gets easier.” I disagree. Sure, they become more independent. But the parenting stress doesn’t get easier, just different. And don’t even get me started on Mom-guilt.

If you’re new here, our homeschool journey began like this:

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