
Tis the season of open houses and graduation parties which means that it's the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. This time marks one of those rhythmic changes that all families experience. As a family, you go from school to summer, structure to freedom, 6th grade to 7th grade, 12th grade to well...graduated; and with all of the rhythmic changes this season offers we just don't ever seem to be fully ready for the looming transitions in our families. It's even mournful and somber to think that the family just won't be the same.
I read a fantastic article written by Reggie Joiner titled Parents in Transition. You've got to read it, but just in case you only have 2 min, here are the two take aways.
1. It's a complicated time: While your children are transitioning from being dependent to independent, you are transitioning as a parent from having authority to a place of leveraging your influence. You can’t parent them the same way you did and that is a complicated journey.
2. It's an urgent time: Time is running out. If they're not out of the house yet, they will be soon whether it's a few months or a few years. And as the time for them to move on, out and away gets closer and closer, everything (grades, friends, choices) seems more and more urgent and important.
Simply knowing those two take aways opens us up to navigate these rhythmic changes well.
So, here's your homework; answer this question: What is ONE thing you can do this week to embrace this season's rhythmic change? OK...now do it!