We’ve all had those days. You know the ones. You wake up on a beautiful summer morning to a day full of potential. As a treat, you let the kids wake up on their own and imagine a morning filled with kids happily playing with Legos, reading books, and quietly coloring before you have a nutritious lunch - where everyone cleans their plates. Then, you are all happily off to the pool. Can’t you feel the expectation? A day you dream about, long for, one that you thought parenthood promised.
Instead, you may wake up to a beautiful morning and even have a few minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee before the kids wake up one by one and have plans of their own! Before you can swig down that last drop of coffee, it starts. “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom.” “What’s for breakfast?” “Can I have ice cream?” “What are we doing today?” “Can I watch TV?” Now, you have a choice: join the chaos, throw in the towel, or turn the day around. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in HIM’” Lamentations 3:23-24 Here is our opportunity to show our kids the Love that God shows us by giving “new mercies” to our kids. First, we have to put aside our expectations. In the summer, our kids thrive on routines. We may want lazy summer days, but our kids can’t thrive without routine. I am entirely guilty of this. I love being spontaneous, but this makes my adopted son quite anxious! Second, we need to show mercy to our kids when they have a “rough start. “Do-overs are huge with kids, especially kids from hard places. If we let the morning get off to a rocky start, we can bring it back under control by just starting over. Have a dance party, get the “willies” out, and then set new expectations for the day. Third, make a plan for chores and activities. Everyone is better when they are “employed.” It helps kids’ self esteem and our demeanor if we can all pitch in to help around the house. Once chores are finished, have an activity planned. You can go for a walk, a park, or the pool; it doesn’t have to be grand or expensive; just a change of scenery can help. Remember, however, that for any kids who deal with anxiety, you may need to prep where you are going and describe expectations. These are just a few ideas to help you survive summer. Don’t forget that school will be starting soon, leading to a new schedule; you might want to begin thinking about a new schedule to start with kids soon in anticipation of the first day of school. ** If you have kids who struggle at church in Sunday School, AWANA, or other activities, we can provide free, on-site Trauma-Informed Training for your church volunteers. Contact Kym Schnittker at [email protected] for more information. By Kym Schnittker Metro Relationships and Support Manager FamiliesCare Manager for Arapahoe County
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