Spending Quality Time With Your Kids

The theme this week will be "Raising Children God's Way." Each day, I will post a new article covering a different aspect of parenting (i.e. discipline, training, teaching, etc). For those of you who are parents, I hope that you especially benefit from this series of articles. If you disagree with anything that I write, please comment below.

We've talked about the importance of both discipline and teaching so far this week. Today, I'd like to discuss another oft-neglected aspect of parenting: relationship-building. Yes, we are to be parents, and that involves being strict when we need to be. We have to set rules and sometimes that is sometimes going to make us unpopular (especially when our little babies become teenagers). But there is also a real sense in which we need to befriend our children. There is a fine balance between the two, and it is easy to lean towards one extreme or the other, but as parents we need to do our best to find that balance.

How much quality time do you spend with your children? If your life is comparable to the lives of most Americans, you are a busy, busy person. We rush from work to pick up our kids from soccerball practice, and then we get dinner from McDonald's, and then it's home so that our kids can do some homework before bed. Even our weekends are jam-packed with activities and obligations. We are so busy, and we neglect our families so much that we try to make up for it by going on annual family vacations to places like Disney World and Myrtle Beach.

But it's okay, right? After all, our kids have cell phones with which they can text-message their friends. They've got computers in their bedrooms with internet access. There is Myspace and Facebook and YouTube...so...it's not like our kids are bored. They've got plenty to do...once they're done with their after-school activities and their homework. And sure, kids enjoy these things, but does it benefit them? Not at all.

Parents sometimes justify their neglect by saying, "I've got to work so much so that my kids can have nice things." And they do have nice things. A house that's way bigger than it needs to be. Brand-spanking-new SUVs that are too big and too expensive. Big-screen TVs with surround sound and all of the accessories. Nice new furniture. The newest gaming consoles. And the list goes on.

But let me ask you this question: what is more important? It is more important that they have all of these unnecessary luxuries? Is that really what life is all about? Or is it more important that they're able to spend quality time with their parents who, in turn, will teach them and train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Folks, we need to slow down and, as parents, we need to get our priorities straight. We need to stop competing with all of our neighbors and friends. Life is not about keeping up with the Jones'. We need to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life.

Instead of watching TV tonight, we not play a board game? Instead of everyone retreating to their bedrooms to do their own things, why not go play in the yard or go to the park? Why not have a Bible study with your kids or take them out for ice cream? Talk to them. Get to know them.

You'll soon discover that your kids are pretty awesome...