As a single parent my son witnesses firsthand how I struggle to balance work and home. Although he "gets it" it's still not easy for him to accept. Every so often he complains that I don't make enough time to play, and as much as I would love to spend every waking moment talking and playing with him, it just isn't possible.
Most of our days it's just he and I; there's no dad coming home after work, no friends knocking on the door after school. We've talked about the time we each need to put into our respective work, his education and my job. There are goals we're each striving for.
Still, he asks, "What's the purpose?"
He also asks, "Why do I need to learn Math? Isn't that why they invented calculators." Or "Why do I need to learn Grammar? I don't want to be a writer." Or "Why do I need to take the trash out or empty the dishwasher EVERY day?"
It makes perfect sense in his young mind to use the technology provided to take short-cuts. Most teens don't comprehend the daily grind that we as adults have learned to accept. They are continually trying to break free of what they perceive to be boring and mundane.
It's these moments that I wonder what happened to the little boy who would push a chair up to the kitchen counter and awkwardly crawl on it to help me while I was baking or cooking.
Where did the child go who got on his knees next to me in the garden to plant seeds or pull weeds?
I remember the laughs and stories we shared over a basket of towels and how the tickle monster would make numerous visit throughout the day.
Although those days are long gone and my little boy has grown into an independent young man whose only interest is his basic need to eat, sleep, and be entertained, I consistently need to remind him to be diligent and do more than just enough.
What about you, are you dealing with a defiant teen?
photo credit: Paxson Woelber
Most of our days it's just he and I; there's no dad coming home after work, no friends knocking on the door after school. We've talked about the time we each need to put into our respective work, his education and my job. There are goals we're each striving for.
He also asks, "Why do I need to learn Math? Isn't that why they invented calculators." Or "Why do I need to learn Grammar? I don't want to be a writer." Or "Why do I need to take the trash out or empty the dishwasher EVERY day?"
It makes perfect sense in his young mind to use the technology provided to take short-cuts. Most teens don't comprehend the daily grind that we as adults have learned to accept. They are continually trying to break free of what they perceive to be boring and mundane.
It's these moments that I wonder what happened to the little boy who would push a chair up to the kitchen counter and awkwardly crawl on it to help me while I was baking or cooking.
Where did the child go who got on his knees next to me in the garden to plant seeds or pull weeds?
I remember the laughs and stories we shared over a basket of towels and how the tickle monster would make numerous visit throughout the day.
Although those days are long gone and my little boy has grown into an independent young man whose only interest is his basic need to eat, sleep, and be entertained, I consistently need to remind him to be diligent and do more than just enough.
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Proverbs 6:6
photo credit: Paxson Woelber
No comments:
Post a Comment