The Joys of Parenting

So where are we at today? I wonder what you have been up to (please do share in the comments below!). We are definitely getting cabin fever at home! Home school has been so much better during this second lockdown now that the schools have had the chance to figure out how to do things and how to deliver online lessons. (Shout out to @WillowsCE, and @StraUponAvonSch!). The delivery of the teaching is great, but the children are struggling with so much Zooming during their day (as we all are, I think). I don’t know why, but for some reason it just seems all that much more exhausting, mentally, than meeting with people in person.

The children are also finding it really hard not being able to see their friends and do the things they would like to do. Television seems to be losing some of its appeal (which, in my mind, is not a bad thing in the long run!), and boredom has set in. It is quite mentally exhausting as parents to keep trying to think of ways to keep their spirits up and to keep coming up with ideas for things for them to do. Any of you who are parents will, I’m sure, identify. They come to you saying they’re bored and what can they do; you wrack your brain to think of some suggestions, but they don’t ever want to do anything you suggest because it is “boring”, and the likelihood is, that the only reason it is “boring” is because you suggested it in the first place!! When they come up with the same idea for themselves, it is a great and innovative idea! So, by you suggesting anything at all, you are really putting a nail in the coffin of that idea where your children are concerned! Come on now, how many of you can relate??!

So, Lydia’s latest idea to quell the boredom was to pierce her own ears! As a mum of a 13 year old, my first reaction to this was “absolutely no way!”, but then the youth worker part of my brain kicked in and I began to think it through from her point of view. She had done a lot of research and seemed pretty clued up. I know she is sensible and quite mature about these kind of things, and the kits seemed hygienic and easy to use. So, after watching a few tutorials and reading up on it, we gave in and let her do it. To her credit she did a great job and is looking after them very well. (I couldn’t have done that to myself!).

Parenting is a fine line isn’t it? - between loving your kids enough to protect them from the outside world, and indeed from their own naivety, and loving them enough to trust them to make their own decisions sometimes and to deal with whatever consequences may come. There is no manual to say when to say yes, and when to say no. Each child is so different (even within your own family), and each family is different. Sometimes we feel like we have nailed it, and other times we feel like we are floundering with no clue whatsoever. I love that I have friends who I can talk to who are in exactly the same boat. And I love the fact that when I have no clue, I can ask God to guide me, and ask Him to protect our children from our mistakes.

So well done to all those parents out there who are winging it on a daily basis (you know who you are!). We are in this together and we will get through it. Don’t forget to keep encouraging one another and make sure you share the realities of your struggles as well as the times things go well. There is no shame in admitting you are struggling. We were designed for interdependence, - we need each other, and we need to be there for each other. And remember, when all else fails, whether you have a faith in God or not, you can still call out to Him and He will help you. “The Lord is near to ALL who call upon Him” Psalm 145v18.

Wow! That blog post didn’t go anywhere near where I had planned it to! I will save the rest for another time. Do post your thoughts in the comments below, and feel free to share this post.

Until next time!

Beckey x