Is your kid "over-booked?" Chances are if you're reading this the answer is a resounding YES!
The rule of thumb according to Dr. Meg Meeker is; one extra-curricular activity per season. This means one sport or one instrument or whatever each season or semester. I tend to agree. For some of you reading this - it's probably hard to hear. Youth today are way over-extended, overbooked, too busy, and plain worn out...it's healthy for them to have down time, time to learn how to deal with boredom. It really is okay! As well, it's becoming even more important for youth to be spending more and more time at home with their parents.
Do you really believe that you (mom & dad) have the greatest influence and impact on your kid's lives? It's not their peers, not society and surely not their youth leaders - it's you as parents. So, then why is it that a majority of parents either overbook, or allow their youth to become overbooked? Don't you want them spending the most time with those who have the most influence over them?
So, is it time for you and your family to cut back on your kids' schedule? Are you secretly saying 'yes,' knowing you're not going to do a darn thing about it? Or, will you really do what's best for them and cut down on their calendar? You know if God wants them to be a concert trombonist - God will allow them to live long enough to figure that out on their own - let them be kids for now. Your kid does not have to "out shine" the neighbor kids. They just have to shine in the way God designed them too. And youth definitely don't need to have any adults "reliving younger years through their kids' activities and lives."
Teens if you're reading this one - it's time to check yourself...are you really running yourself into the ground? How will this really help you in the long run? What do you accomplish? Do you want to run around worn out and empty? It is OK to say no to some things!
And for everyone....where is God in all of this? Why is it that a relationship with God (worship, Bible Study, Youth Group, family discussions over faith issues...) ALWAYS get pushed to the bottom of the to-do list? The next time I hear a youth being grounded from 'God', or that I see 'God is taking second seat to something else - something that doesn't have eternal matter - I think I'm going to scream!
It's time for us to shape up and do our youth a favor - cut back on the activities and really live.
What are you going to do? What are your family values?
His,
~C
1 comment:
SCREAM!!!!!!
please.. i find it a tad bit ridiculous as well. to be grounded from 'God' or church or bible study and whatnot. i mean, honestly, (and i would like an answer to this, that would be rather neat) when was the last time something bad happened because somebody went to church?
well i think it was the crusades, but that probably wont happen again... at least i hope not.
you could also consider slavery an issue with that, but i see many many instances in the Bible of God/Jesus saying to love everybody, or not to show favoritism, and to love our enemies. what happened to that?
wow.. i can really rant. haha have a good weekend!
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