Austin, our eldest son, had a business trip in Miami; he decided to extend his time there and invite Stacey, his wife, to join him. Keith and I volunteered to “babysit” our grandsons for the 3 days they would be gone; because Braden is 2½ and Asher is 4 months, we concluded it would be easier to stay in their home in Nashville.
Since our two sons’ age difference was about the same, I knew I had first hand experience; but what I failed to realize was that it had been almost 28 years since I had been a fulltime caretaker of 2 wee ones! At the end of each day, I was exhausted. I hadn’t even had time for my traditional morning second cup of coffee; lunch time was a blur; nap time was a trial in sequencing; and dinner proved to be an experiment in timing as well as meal planning. I became a prisoner of the house for three rainy spring days because the idea of managing two in car seats not to mention the logistics of using a shopping cart was a trial I wouldn’t even consider.
When I arrived back home, the peacefully quiet serene atmosphere was deafening. I love my grandsons and thrive on the attention they show me, but since I am not their mother, I do not have to face the tough daily responsibility of parenting them.
Being a parent is a tough job. I remember being the main disciplinarian because Keith’s coaching career kept him away from home many days; I felt his time with them was precious; so, I seldom asked for help concerning a minor daily discipline issue.
Children are a blessing from God; and with each blessing we are given, we are also given responsibility. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-28) parallels our duty as a parent. We have been given a piece of God’s property to manage; and if we don’t wisely invest our time teaching, loving and guiding our investments, then God will not be pleased with us. Children are not always appreciative of rules, but if we use God’s Word as a guide, we will successfully rear the next generation of Christians.
With each new decade, new challenges arise that cause parenting problems. We now live in an electronic age; everything is at our fingertips and instantaneous. But, at the same time, it often seems like the days are shorter when packed with the busyness of parenting. Reminiscing a bit, I remember that there weren’t enough hours in the day for my private time alone studying God’s Word; and He was often put on the “back burner.” I can see that now, but I believe God understood; He was always there for me when I needed Him.
It seems like most mothers juggle the majority of the daily family issues: disciplining, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, planning and managing family time. The job is very demanding but also rewarding. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” (Proverbs 31:27-29)
Looking back, I feel honored that I was able to spend a few days watching my grandsons; and I’m especially proud that I could allow Stacey and Austin the time together, alone. My grandsons are very loving and special; and even though it took me several days to recuperate, I’ll never regret or forget the three days we spent together.
sharon@scorebaseball.org
