I was already dreaming about playing catch in the back yard and going fishing on a Minnesota lake when my son was born. Oh, the memories we were going to make! Reality settled in pretty quickly when I started to calculate the number of diapers and sleepless nights it would take to get to those moments. Then, before I knew it, babies number two and three arrived, and I felt like a chicken running around with my head cut off. So many things demanded my time and attention, but it felt like there was never enough of me to go around.
When my wife realized how I felt, she encouraged me to go on a guys’ ski trip (if not demanded that I do it). While away, I realized how out of whack my priorities in life had become, causing this sense of exhaustion and apathy to drain my days. Our time is limited, so priorities in life will direct our focus to the most important things. Here are 5 time slots to prioritize as a parent.
1. Time for Self
Getting away from the kids can feel like an Olympic sport at times. Just using the restroom alone can trigger a full-blown search and rescue mission from the kids in our house. It’s important to have time for yourself to focus on your health (mental, physical, spiritual…). Carving out some time for yourself will bring more clarity to the other priorities in life. Depending on the season you’re in, you may need to get creative. Wake up early, stay up late, bypass a staff lunch for 30 minutes of distraction-free time in your car. You may miss out on something else, but it will help “fill your tank” to be more effective in all the other areas.
2. Time for Kids
When our kids are still in the home, our time with them is extremely valuable. Not only do we want to create lasting memories, but we also need to prepare them for life. Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to “train up a child in the way he should go.” It continues: “…even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Even when it doesn’t seem like he’s listening, your guidance is setting him on a path for years to come.
3. Time for Career
Most of us spend at least 40 hours working on our career, so it’s easy to understand why it should be one of our priorities in life. We want to be successful in all we do and model to our kids the discipline and work ethic we have to provide for the family. But take caution from King Solomon, who said in Proverbs 23:4, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich.” There are still other priorities on this list (and maybe more on your list) that need your time and energy.
4. Time for Spouse
Some people joke that KIDS is an acronym: keeping intimacy at a distance successfully. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In the thick of parenting, you may feel buried in kids’ activities, house chores, and everyday busyness that you forget to be intentional with your wife. Put date nights or conversation blocks on your calendar and guard them from any other intrusive event.
5. Time for God
Spending time with God can help align all our priorities in life. It causes us to step back from our current situations to see the bigger picture. The best part is that God wants the best for you. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Spending time with God allows us to experience that fullness.
Sound off: What tips or tricks have worked for you when trying to straighten out priorities in life?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What is your favorite way to kick back and relax?”