I saw someone post an article on facebook today titled: "5 Ways We're Making Parenting harder". I was curious to see if there was any truth to this article so I opened it up to read. The author had some good thoughts to share. If you want to read the whole article you can find it here:
http://wellcommons.com/weblogs/larryvillemom/2013/aug/21/5-ways-were-making-parenting-harder/ (but be warned, there is some language)
These are the 5 points she makes and my thoughts on the matter:
1- Birthday Parties
2- Elf on the Shelf
3- Organic Everything
4- Kid's Sports
5- Pinterest
To me points 1, 2 and 4 are things that are unnecessary uses of our time. Don't get me wrong, parties are fun and Christmas traditions are great. Sports teams can teach wonderful things to our children, but how much time are we spending on each of those activities. Just because someone we know does it, doesn't mean we need to also. And if we do have a fun party planned, enroll our child in sports or decide to do a fun Christmas tradition, it doesn't have to be an activity that consumes our day or life.
Point number 5 goes along with the above. I know that I can't think of every good way to clean my house, organize my closets, cook a great meal or teach my children. I'm grateful for those that are willing to share their ideas, but if I'm spending an unreasonable amount of time looking about these ideas, or ideas that I would NEVER actually put into action, then Pinterest is a waste of my time and I should stop or cut back.
The 3rd point is unnecessary worry. I think that we should try to give our children the best possible life. And if that life includes healthier food to eat, then I should do my best to give it to them. But if I can't afford to feed my family all organic food, or buy organic clothes, then I shouldn't. Maybe I can pick out those things that will have the greatest benefit to my family, such as the dirty dozen, and not worry about the rest.
I believe that one of Satan's tools is distraction. When we fill our life with unnecessary things than we are distracted from the things that matter most to us, and to our family.
I love this quote:
"I do not know of another period in the history of the world that has been so filled with such a variety of entangling nets. Our lives are so easily filled with appointments, meetings, and tasks. It is so easy to get caught in a multitude of nets that sometimes even a suggestion of breaking free of them can be threatening and even frightening to us.
Sometimes we feel that the busier we are, the more important we are—as though our busyness defines our worth. Brothers and sisters, we can spend a lifetime whirling about at a feverish pace, checking off list after list of things that in the end really don’t matter.
That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance—that is essential." (Follow Me, Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2002).
Here are some other great quotes:
"Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off-balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin counseled 'that all these things are done in wisdom and order' (Mosiah 4:27)." (Keeping Life's Demands in Balance, M. Russell Ballard, April Conference 1987)
"We will move faster if we hurry less.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Let Us Move Forward and Upward,” Ensign, May 1979, 83.)
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives." (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Great Commandment--Love the Lord," Ensign, May 1988)
So evaluate your family life and priorities, don't feel like you have to do it all or be busy all the time and remember most of all, that when God is first all other things will fall into place.
