Outsourced Parenting
Outsourced Parenting
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother. (Prov. 29:15)
Are You There?
My father was forty-five when I was born. And to top it off, I came as a set—I was a twin. As a parent myself now, I’m exhausted some days and don’t feel like playing with my daughter. I can only imagine how my daddy must have felt when my twin brother and I reached early adolescence. But he was available, always involved in our lives.
Passive parenting is like passive farming. Without involvement one can expect little more than a harvest of weeds. You cannot outsource parenting. You can’t bully or buy your way to successful kids. They are not raised on “quality time” but on real time—your time and lots of it.
Will You Be Present?
In the business world a lot of tasks and projects are outsourced to other companies to save money and time. But parents cannot outsource their presence with their children to teachers, coaches, babysitters, or the church. You can’t give your kids money and send them on their way and think you have fulfilled your role. Children need parents to be involved and connected with their lives. Parents are not required to be perfect, but they are required to be present.
Look for ways you can spend time with your children. Develop a hobby together. Go shopping together. Play a sport together. Schedule regular nights to go out and have fun. The possibilities are endless. Just remember: there is no substitute for time spent with them.
Bottom Line
Nothing can ever replace the times and the memories shared with a child. Make a memory today.