The older I get the more clear it becomes to me that life is about prioritizing the right thing. When I have my priorities right, the things that matter most get done.
The list contained everything we believed or hoped our children would know, be, or have the confidence to do by the time they graduated from high school. As a parent, it is overwhelming,
To love our kids well, we must speak words. That means for me, I have to dial it back and ensure my words are fitly spoken. For my wife, that means she has to speak the words she thinks and writes.
They say you should try walking in someone else's shoes. This is especially the case when it comes to compassion and sympathy. There are so many people that I have never walked in their shoes, including my children.
Success as a parent is elusive. It seems as if the target is always moving. At bare minimum, it's overwhelming to think about all the areas we hope to raise our children successfully.
"Son!" My dad's voice rang out from across the yard. I knew he was calling for me to come. As I trotted toward where he was a few thoughts ran through my mind. The first was, "oh no, what did I do?". The second was, "will I get in trouble?". Finally, I thought maybe he needs help with something. As I rounded the corner of the house I immediately knew what he wanted.