I’m not going to talking about balancing a checkbook or balancing on a beam. I’m thinking more along the lines of balancing life. This summer has been busy and has brought on lots of changes and such! All good, but causes me to do a lot of reflecting, on myself, my life, and the people around me. Balance is, in my mind, so important. The thing to remember is, each person’s definition of “balance” is going to be different. The way one person will feel balanced is different than for someone else. So, keep that in mind. I think I tend to think that because this is what works best for me or my family, that it’s what would work for everyone, but that is just not the case.
Becoming a parent is such a life changing experience! It’s overwhelming to all the sudden be responsible for a little person! Then as they continue to grow up, that weight of responsibility gets bigger. Because now it’s not just about changing diapers and making sure they are burped and fed. It’s now about all that AND making sure they are learning the life lessons that will help them to learn and grow and develop into functioning, capable adults.
I am starting to see how different forms of parenting can be good, bad, or somewhere in between. I grew up with parents who, I feel like, have set some really great examples for me. For them, I think they found balance. My parents grew up going on date nights, but still also took time to give us as their kids, experiences. It wasn’t all about them, but it also wasn’t all about us. Some may take what I’m saying as strange or weird, but I have come across parents who do everything to make sure their kids experience EVERYTHING. Some may ask, what’s wrong with that? Well, I think the problem with that is they are going to grow up still having a need to experience everything. I’m not saying they will turn bad or do things that aren’t right. I’m saying they will become parents someday and will still feel like they are the ones that should be entertained. Then there are the parents like the ones as kids that grow up, where they still feel like they should be the ones entertained and forget that their own children need to have those childhood experiences.
There has to be balance.
I once heard or read that the greatest gift you can give your children is by having a solid relationship with your spouse. I believe that. I believe it’s good for the kids to know how important you are to each other. I think it’s good for them to see that you still want to go on adventures and do things as an adult. Then I also believe it is important to let children be children. And have family experiences together. For family activities to be about everyone. Not just about the adults and not just about the kids!
Anyways. I hope and pray that I can continue making an effort to have balance in our lives. It is something that is also ever-changing. As kids go into school, and as kids grow up, or as more children come into the family, that balance is always going to be shifting. The church I belong to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, promotes families! I love that! We have the Family Proclamation. You can go here to read it, http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Manuals/TheFamily_AProclamationToTheWorld_35538_eng.pdf.
The church also promotes Family Home Evenings. It’s once a week, on Mondays or whenever works out best for each family, and there’s a lesson, and singing, and treats, and games, and a family council involved. I love this. It’s a great way to keep connected as a family. It’s a great time to open up and talk about what’s going on in everyone’s lives. What’s working or not working in the family. It’s just all around a good thing and I truly know it was inspired by God. Families are important and Satan is trying to do everything in his power to tear them apart.
I hope each and everyone of us can continue working to find balance in our lives! It will be a great gift to our lives as individuals, but also a great gift for our children to see, feel, and experience. That can be passed down through generation after generation.
