Lazy Parents, Unite!

If I’m going to be honest, I have to admit that I’m a lazy parent.

Here is how that looks:

My 12-year-old son has a reputation for being a poor worker, but that’s because I was too lazy to teach him correctly.  When he was young and tender, a shoot to be coaxed and guided, I ignored his need to be taught, because I can do it better and faster and I didn’t want to mess with it.  After all, I was in a hurry.  I didn’t have time.

He IS a poor worker, and oh, what excuses I make, and this is only one example of my laziness as a parent.  There are more, and uglier ones.

But this is my blog and I get to pick the stories.

Yes, yes, yes, I know his laziness plays in, but that’s his end of things, and I have to admit and face mine.  I know in my heart I didn’t teach him because I am lazy, among other unattractive things.  It’s actually a comfort for me to admit this, because now, I can get the cure from the Wonderful Counselor and stop moving things from shelf to shelf.  This is all part of fixing my junk.

Once, when I still had a house full of children, and after hearing an inspiring program on parenting, I made a fresh commitment and gave it my all.  This lasted for about three days. At the end of those days, I was exhausted, and I remember thinking how hard the work of real parenting was, and I remember giving up, justifying my decision by a list of good-sounding-things, the foremost among them that I didn’t have this kind of time.  What I really lacked was this kind of motivation.

Today, my husband and I have realized our deficiencies, and we are steadily working to correct them.  It’s hard work, but we keep throwing off our laziness and going at it again.

¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 4: 13-14, New Living Translation

Of course, all of our children are up and out of the home, save this one, but we can’t give up.  No, we can never, ever give up.  When is it too late?  This guy says never, as long as you’re sucking wind, and I appreciate that thought.  I cling to it.

So, lazy parents, unite!  I want to encourage you today.  Put on your gear, and fight the good fight.  Wipe those tears, and don’t give up.  Grab those bootstraps and pull.  Go get one of these magnets somewhere…

… slap it on your fridge, and report again for duty today, soldier.  We can do this thing, I promise.

(As you can see, this is one of my favorite mis-quotes.)

In case you were late to history class (I was), Winston Churchill said a version of this in a speech in England after they were bombed to smithereens by the Germans.  If they can hang in there, we can too, don’t you think?

¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:1, NIV

Heading to the lake for a few days to celebrate Son’s birthday.  Son and 3 friends today, back tomorrow with Husband, then all kids coming in for the weekend.  I’m actually too lazy to do this, but I’m doing it anyway.  See you on the other side…