Tim says I have to get to bed by 11 pm tonight.
We read a lot of marriage books during our courtship and first years of marriage. During the submission chapters, I dutifully took notes, vowing to cheerfully submit to my husband. I have a wonderful mother and mother-in-law who model beautiful Christian marriages of mutual love and respect. My grandmother was a staunch advocate of marriage and believed submission was easy when your spouse was laying down his life for you as Christ did for the church.
No one ever warned me submission would involve bedtimes.
That’s going from preaching to meddling to this night owl.
Okay, perhaps Tim didn’t really say I have to go to bed by 11 pm. In fact, all he really did was make a suggestion. And, to be completely truthful (because I’m all about being honest on the blog here), it’s only because I was an emotional wreck today and am very over-tired and he’s looking out for my best interest.
Hmmm. That sounds an awful lot like loving as Christ loved the church.
Unfortunately that means I don’t have a parenting tip for the day. I could have spent some time this evening writing, but I decided to read to the children instead. If I ignore my children but compose a brilliant parenting tip, what have I accomplished?
Presents for the “Giving Tree,” a project blessing needy children in the community.
So, instead of cozying up to my wireless keyboard and sharing words of wisdom, I was snuggled on Big Blue with three children, reading Christmas books, opening birthday presents and reviewing piano lesson work.
Consider that your tip for the day – relish the sweet moments with your children. Hug them, read Christmas books, play a game, bake cookies. Smile. Close your mouth and wait just a few extra seconds before speaking words of correction and discipline.
Kathy
It’s three minutes to 11 pm – I still have to publish this post, throw together a lunch for Tim, turn off all the lights in the house, run a quick load of laundry, put the last of the dishes away and start the dishwasher. Maybe I’ll make 11:30 pm. That’s pretty close.
Yep, that’s me, always one to heed good advice.
Sigh.
Project 365 – Day 344
Hey there! I love this, I always need help remembering to just stop and “be” with the kids, talk or read or play…instead of rushing around.
Eleven, eleven-thirty … twelve … who’s counting?
One of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes cartoons portrays the daring duo throughout a typical summer day, at the end of which they deliver this profound comment:
Hobbes: I say, consider this day seized!
Calvin: Tomorrow we’ll seize the day and throttle it!
One of the truly wonderful things about Kathy is her eternal optimism and cheerful outlook on life. As bedtime approaches, she is hard-wired to believe that there is just a little more goodness to be squeezed out of each day, and (often) can’t resist staying up ‘just those few minutes more’.
Carpe Diem, beloved!
By the way, thanks for the lunch!
Thanks for your transparency and sharing my emotional day with me!
Kathy, you’re my hero! You’re actually able to anticipate an accurate bedtime knowing the (literally) eleventh hour tasks yet to complete! Wow! With me, that last minute list would take me an hour to complete because as I attend to those items I inevitably get sidetracked onto other last minute items that have been neglected for far too long (eg. replacing the paper towels in the kitchen while emptying the dishwasher, changing out a burnt light bulb while shutting off the lights…you get the picture). Nobody tells you that Carpe Diem and clinical sleep deprivation go hand in hand.
Seems like submission sure gets easier the longer I’m married…don’t you think?
and 11:30PM? that’s childs play my friend.
The snuggling with your kids is great advice. Nothing better than a good snuggle before bed.
The Clark motto put into words:)
Thanks Tim–We love to make the most of each day….
we love it
I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND! You seem to articulate (no endorsement intended) exactly what I’m thinking and what God is speaking to me….hmmmm.
I loved your parent tip … ‘Close your mouth and wait just a few extra seconds before speaking words of correction and discipline.’ I just read this am in quiet time Ps 139:4…’Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.’ I asked the Lord to help me to guard the words that would come out as sin and replace them with words of blessing and patience. I’ve been convicted of sin in this dept. recently and I’m thankful that He is so faithful to save us!
Thanks Sweet Friend, for a great from the heart tip. God wrote it for you, without planning.
Love ya bunches!
Reminds me of Mom, Nana who used to end her emails with Carpe Diem. I miss her. I cherish the times she stopped everything to BE with us.
Love you Edgrens. Aunt Kate
**Consider that your tip for the day – relish the sweet moments with your children.
Best tip I’ve heard in a long time. They grow up so very, very fast…..I do a lot more playing these days…something about them starting to graduate that sort of shifts the picture a bit. LOL
Well, I see your parenting tip as mentioning the importance of both being lovingly mindful of your spouse, in Tim showing his concern for you, and you accepting it.
That is a wondeful tip. I absolutely love the idea of shutting your mouth an extra second or two before doling out corrections. Thanks for a loving reminder and I too know all to well about the submissive bedtime. It is sweet though!