Dear Parents,
Now that we are more than half way through the school year, we would like to introduce our new blog forum to you. We’re so excited to serve you in this way.
On this platform, we hope to bring you encouragement and tips and tricks that will help you navigate this beautiful journey called Parenthood.
As we embark on the next few months of the year, I would like to encourage you to think about what vision you hold for your family? As you reflect back on this year; have you followed through with what you’ve set out to do this year?
With every year offering us a new opportunity to grow; what areas have you seen your kiddies grow in the last three months? And where would you like to see them grow further in the next few months?
At the start of every new season, I like to draw up some values, disciplines and principles that would help my family and I navigate the year ahead. A family mission or vision statement is an incredibly helpful tool to assist you with your family goals.
Here are some tips:
- Start with a basic plan, or phrase that speaks into your family vision and begin to build on that.
- Break it down into different categories, eg. Health goals, financial goals, community orientated goals, spiritual goals, occupational goals, etc.
- Gather around the dinner table and discuss these topics with each other.
- Write out a vision statement which may include your family values and principles.
- Keep it short and on point
Setting up a vision statement would help you to navigate the different life seasons and decisions that both you and your kiddies will face this year. For the Grade R parents, it may help you to choose a school for your kids next year. Or for some families, it may help you navigate bigger life decisions. Whatever the case, once your values have been laid out – it acts as a guidepost for the year ahead.
As you begin to set out your plans, get your kids involved. Even the little ones. It’s a great time to start coaching them and including them in on your family discussions. It’s easier for your kids to get onboard with a value system, when mom and dad are on board too.
Once you have put your plans down on paper, pick a ‘family meeting’ night, where you discuss family issues around the dinner table. This should become a standard in your home. Eg. Family meeting night takes place every second Monday.
This is a great opportunity to set down some family rules, or to discuss discipline issues within your home. This foundational practice will help your kiddos process any new family dynamics, or changes in your daily routine.
As we continue everyday life with our regular routines, I encourage you to prioritise time with your kids. They are at the perfect age for you to start building your family traditions which will be unique to you and your family unit.
It doesn’t have to look perfect, it just needs to be intentional.
Here is a quote from Eryn Lynum, author of: ‘936 Pennies: discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting’
“As our pastor spoke to us on the stage that morning, he had given each family a glass jar full of pennies. My hands dropped a bit as I took in the full weight of the jar; it was heavy with the weight of exactly 936 shiny copper pennies. “In these jars is a penny for every week you will raise this child” our pastor explained. And with his words, the jar felt exponentially more heavy in my grasp. “Every week, remove one penny from the jar. It will be a reminder of the time you have left to raise your child before he or she goes out on their own.” I stared at the pennies, all shiny and glinting inside of the glass jar. They looked like so many… yet so very few. When I looked at our firstborn, now three years old, my soul felt the weight of 172 pennies gone. I had to ask the inevitable question: how had we spent them?”
Make it your mission to continue building into your family and your children’s lives.
Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”
As parents, we are commissioned to use our limited time well; to nurture and to shape and to guide our children into a life of abundance, truth and love. Remember, there’s grace for you as you give of yourselves to this very special task.
Encouraging you always,
Robynne