I think the topic of family priorities and family schedules is an important one. I also think it’s one I’m still learning about. I’m constantly having to preach to myself on the importance of rest and family time. I have to remind myself that I am not my productivity and neither are my kids. I have to begin with the end in mind and remember that my goal is to raise well-rounded kids who love God, love others and love themselves. If they achieve all the fame and success in the world, but don’t have love, we will have missed the point.
So listen to this interview and tell me how you’re finding that balance for your family and how you know when you’ve gone off the rails a bit. I know I’ve got lots more to learn about this topic as my kids get older and their activities add more to our already full calendar.
Here’s the link to the interview with additional thoughts below:
-Mom guilt is a HUGE part of our over-scheduling pressure. We want to give our kids access to everything, encourage them to try every opportunity, and we also want them to have every financial advantage which means we are often over-scheduled ourselves. It takes a lot of confidence to fight off that social pressure and live a more simplified life.
-We need to get comfortable with letting our kids be bored. Boredom is good and we need to be careful to not interrupt it with an agenda of our own.
-Being a “work from home” mom is the best and worst decision I think I’ve made as a parent. It’s amazing to be home and available to my children, but it also creates some fuzzy boundaries about when I’m working and when I’m fully present. It’s easy to let the thing that makes money and gives me kudos drive my agenda for the day. I have to make a really conscious effort to find the boundaries that work for my job and for my family. If you are a mom with a “side hustle” who’s trying to make motherhood work in this gig economy, it can be especially important to figure out your scheduling priorities so one aspect of your life doesn’t eat the other.
-Some of our kids will naturally over-schedule themselves. They love activities, they love people and they find value or identity in being busy. I think it’s important for us to take an active role in helping them set limits that are healthy for them. We need to talk about prioritizing rest and about where our identity should truly come from. Even if they don’t understand and appreciate that now (I know I sure didn’t as a kid), we may be setting them up for a more healthy adulthood when they aren’t run ragged by other people’s expectations.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! How are you managing all the competing pressures?