Thursdays in the Truth: It's Summer, You Want Me to Do What?

So, it’s officially summer break at my house.  That means our normal schedule and routine are out the window.  Yay for not having to fight with the kids to wake them up and get them ready for school.  If I let them, their days would consist of sleeping in and staying up late, watching movies and brainless TV.  No chore would get done.  No reading would happen.  Nothing.

My kids who are used to lots of time commitments between school and extracurriculars are now looking at me for entertainment.  I love the time I get to spend with them over the summer but we always seem to have an adjustment period before we get to the fun part.  Please tell me I’m not the only one fighting this battle.  I have struggled with this as a working mom and a stay-at-home mom.  The thing they don’t realize is that I would also love to stay up late and sleep in and just hang out with them just being.  I’d rather not have to work or do the chores.  Don’t they know that if they just helped with the chores right off the bat, then we would have more time to just hang out?  And that if I didn’t have to fuss at them to help out, I wouldn’t look like the lunatic they frequently see when they look at me.

I am encouraged, as usual, after reading my Bible.  Proverbs 19:18 says “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”  I don’t think I’m the only one who immediately thinks of punishment when we talk about discipline.  However, in this verse I think we can broaden the meaning to include teaching them the right way to behave in all situations.  And in this case, that means teaching them that they must do the work before they can play.  And why shouldn’t we teach our kids that?  It’s the way the world works. If we want to go on vacation, we have to do the work first to earn the money to afford it.  If we want to eat a delicious snack, we have to make it first (or if you are like me, go to the store and buy it).  It even follows the concept of tithing: give your first fruits to the Lord and the rest is yours to manage. 

So this summer, I encourage your family to follow this principal as well.  We have things that must be done before we can sit and stare blankly at the screen or invite friends over or whatever it is that they want to do this summer.  Whether they are home with you all day or with a sitter or at daycare, we still have to be reminded to be disciplined.  Work and chores and, yes, even some studying must get done before we can run off willy-nilly and do absolutely nothing.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not run from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace, they will bring you the delights you desire.”  Proverbs 29:17

Parenting is hard work, all the time.  These verses from Proverbs are encouraging in that they remind us that the hard work is hardest at the beginning.  With the right amount of discipline in the beginning you can reap the rewards of your hard work.  It might not be fun and they probably won’t be thanking you right away but there will be a reward in the end.

Of course, if you are like me with older children, you may think you’ve missed that opportunity with those older children and now they are destined to be the laziest people on the face of the earth.  Be encouraged that even one lesson plants a seed.  And consistency is the key.  If you pick this path, don’t waver from it. 

With that being said, we can survive this season of wacky schedules! When all else fails, lean on the Lord.  He will direct you to the support you need to be strong again.  Call on your Sisters-in-Christ to lend advice or provide the mommy-time-out you may desperately need.  On the flip side, if you feel like you’ve got a good handle on this discipline thing, pray to be a support for another mom who may be feeling overwhelmed.