Monday, January 17, 2011

Time and Kids

Time and Kids
Sometimes I feel time speeding by like the train in this picture (Thanks to Karli Bonnie Photography).





Our two college (actually, grad school) kids were home for a couple of weeks over Christmas. Now they are back in school. We did some of the things we planned to do, but not all. Time.

We sometimes think of time as our enemy - it is constantly working against us or trying to escape us. Actually, time is our friend. It is here for us to enjoy with the people we love and the things we like to do (and, yes, even some of the things we have to do :).

One daughter, a senior, remains at home. How can we use our remaining time with her as a friend rather than an enemy?

- Celebrate the minutes and hours we do have together. Make the time memorable.

- Enjoy the things she enjoys with her. Right now that is basketball, and so far we have seen every game #11 has played.






- Still take advantage of the teachable moments. We can't just get misty during the final months. There is still some bending of the twig left, and as responsible parents, we can't let all those opportunities fly by.

- Create momories that will last. Two things I do here. One, take lots of pictures. Two, keep a diary of the kids' last year at home. I give them the diary when they go off to college. That is a big hit (and don't just write the fun or pleasant things; write the real things as they happen).

Just a few suggestions, but ideas that will hopeful help us to wisely redeem the time with our older kids.


Warren

(Note: I don't know how this post will look when it actually posts. I spent way too much time trying to get the paragraphs right, but I simply cannot get rid of the big gaps. This is when time becomes the enemy :).

2 comments:

Beth Herring said...

You are such a great dad! I love your suggestions in the post - time does go way too fast and if we don't hang on to each moment, it is gone...

Love to you!

partialemptynester said...

I hear ya! My love language is time and I spent waaay too much time with the computer (that I do not love as much as my family) trying to get my post just right...and never quite did! Must go now to read with my daughter...time they never grow to old to spend with...reading! Love this list for your last daughter's senior year! Enjoy the time you have with her :)