School started this last week. Each summer seems to go more quickly than the last which makes the beginning of a new year even more bittersweet. On Thursday, we celebrated my baby boy turning 5. Unbelievable! With the clock ticking away at their childhood’s, I find it even more important to savor the moments, to be intentional with our time and my one word of 2014– to be present, living in the moment.
While laying in bed, after a fun night of celebrating, candle blowing, and laughter I was thinking about how this is a monumental year for my kids. It is the last year of “elementary” for our oldest daughter as she is in 6th grade (even though she is in “middle school” now). Next year she will be in Junior High participating sports and activities. The twins are in 1st grade. As I walked into their classroom on the first day, there is a definite, noticeable difference between Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms. Then there is our little man who turned 5 yesterday…. Next year he will leave all day for Kindergarten. And the baby could be in her first year of preschool. I couldn’t do it! She turned 3 the end of May and I wasn’t ready to send her off on the big bus quite yet. We decided to do preschool at home this year, calling it Momma School.
There will be many exciting changes in the next year. I want this year to be monumental, not just because of a grade, a right of passage or because another year has passed. I want have an intentionally present and FUN year. I also want this to be a year of growth for our entire family. Here are a few things I’m wanting my kids to learn this year through intentional, present parenting and lots of love and fun (I will be elaborating on these throughout the upcoming week):
- To grow in each of their relationships with Jesus.
- To encourage the love of reading
- To cultivate a heart of gratitude and kindness by serving others.
- To increase awareness of how money works.
- To learn new life skills such as how to launder clothes, cook simple dishes, and take care of their belongings.
- To encourage their personal interests and strengths. With a large family, sometimes everyone ends up grouped into doing something because someone else is, even though they don’t enjoy it. I’m trying to be more individualized this year.
What do you want your children to learn this year?
What a wonderful post! My son heads off to school tomorrow for the first day of 3rd grade and I too am excited to see what this school year will bring.
So glad you stopped by! 🙂 Good luck with the first day tomorrow, I hope it is wonderful for him and MOM!
Your post brings a moment of reflection. Time is surely to be savoured, and memories locked away in our hearts because our children don’t keep. My eldest turns 20 soon, my youngest, no longer a baby but a growing child at 6yrs. The years that pass are all precious moments. Thank you for sharing. Those are truly thought provoking goals.
Those are wonderful things to teach your children! Such a great idea to have written goals for the lessons you want to teach. Just stumbled across your blog through the linkup for the first time, and I love the message of intentionality! I never realized how important it was to be intentional until I had a baby, but now I realize that things don’t just “happen.” Children don’t just stumble upon good manners, a knowledge of the gospel, or various life lessons. Thanks for sharing this post!
Those are great goals! My daughter is grown, but my son just began his junior year of high school. I hope to see him learn more independent time management skills this year, to grow in self confidence, and to further develop his personal interests (music and art)
Beckey
http://reallyreallyrealhousewives.blogspot.com
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All great goals . . . and with mom and dad to encourage and participate in helping the kids work toward them, you’ll reap great rewards. (Visiting from Thriving Thursday.)
Thanks, Abi! I will be over to enjoy your site! 🙂