I mentioned to you guys the other day that I just finished “Revolutionary Parenting”. Here’s a quote which floored me. I always thought a good parent would keep their kids really busy. If we keep them busy we keep them out of trouble right?
“Surveys have shown that one of the major points of stress for children these days is their packed schedules. Our surveys have found that stress levels among adolescents and teens match those of adults. Kids admit to feeling overwhelmed by the quantity of responsibilities thrust upon them, from homework to sports, music lessons to church events, household chores to relational expectations, media intake to hobbies.”
I think it was Andy Stanley who once said, we’re raising a generation of kids who are “experience rich” but “relationship poor”. This is convicting when I think about my main mission as a parent is to raise kids who ultimately love God and love people. While I would love for them to be a team player, to have a some experience traveling, and to be well rounded at the end of the day I want them to be relationship rich.
Isn’t it true it’s “relationships” not “experiences” at the end of the day which actually set them up for success in life? Isn’t it “relationship” not “experiences” which will equip them to handle so many of the situations they’ll face?
Do you think we’re stressing our kids out with all the opportunities these days? As parents, do we need to step in and limit what they do so they don’t get burned out? How are you guys finding balance in all of this?
