Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time, long ago, I was in seminary. The class was taught by a smart guy who wore a suit and used Brylcreem on his hair. He, like so many other professors, used a well-worn syllabus that mapped out all the things he planned to teach us eager seminoids.

I remember the last class with Professor Brylcreem. He wrapped up his lecture and with a little flourish closed his syllabus with these words, "We didn't make it all the way through what I had planned, but that's ok."

I've thought of his words more than once and know what he said is somehow profound. Truth is, we make our plans, teach and do life, and rarely make it through all that we have planned . . . and that's ok ."

The real danger as I see it is feeling like WE MUST make it through our plan and then push through life and run over people to make sure we cover it all. If that pretty much sums up your approach--STOP IT!!

Take a chill, learn from Professor Brylcreem and enjoy your children, not your plan.

Be real,

Todd

P.S. Speaking of plans, it's time to plan for Christmas. We've lightened your holiday load a little by providing you with the best Christmas products on the planet. Once again, we have handy-dandy, pre-packaged Christmas crafts (perfect for Christmas family nights). We've also added a NEW Christmas Read-aloud, "The Secret of the Snow Village," and are offering a wonderful NEW E-Book, "The Last Christmas." To top it off we're got the best dad gift ever, The 2014 You 'da Dad Daily Calendar  as well as our popular Christmas game, To Bethlehem. Check out all of our great Christmas products here!!

Dear Friends,

Did you open this week's THM, praying that, at last, someone would tell you how to do it all? Is the magical formula here that will help you get it all done??

Well, yes and no. Or, maybe I should say, "No and Yes."

First the NO.

Children are not predictable, have you noticed? You have that wonderful schedule all set up (and you worked HARD on it, well done!!), and first thing you know, your kids are not cooperating with the program. They have questions, they are tired, they don't get it, they don't remember it, they want to go outside, read a book, visit friends, sleep, eat--ANYTHING but what you had scheduled.

And that is frustrating. I know, believe me, I know!

Even if they are cooperative with your schedule, children are NOT robots to be programmed. You cannot set them on the quick cycle, like you can do a washing machine or a dishwasher. Sometimes they are FAST, and sometimes they are S-L-O-W!!

And that is challenging. I know, believe me, I know!

Even if they are cooperative with your schedule and move at a reasonable pace, you live in the 21st century. That means, that everywhere you look, people are doing more, faster, better, non-stop, breathless, and more exhausted than ever before. So, as you try to keep up with the Jones' (probably on Facebook), you are quite likely trying to do more than can be done.

And that is impossible. I know, believe me, I know!

So, let's consider the YES.

Let me run a scenario for you. You planned to read aloud two chapters from Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Well done!! That is a great way to interest your kids in literature, in history, in family-life, in survival skills, you name it. Your kids will listen breathlessly, eyes glued on you, hanging on your every word. Perfect learning situation!!

You had planned twenty minutes for this literature exercise, and when it's over, you are supposed to move on to science. But, after the first sentence in Chapter One, one of your kids says, "Hey, Mom, where's Wisconsin?

So, recognizing that you probably won't keep their interest if you don't answer the questions, specifically where Wisconsin lies, you dutifully pull out a road atlas of America. Crowded around your lap, your kids start asking questions.

"Where's California? Where's Disneyland? Where does Grandma live? Where were you born? Where was I born?" And on, and on, it goes.

Determined to at least read ONE chapter out of the literature book, you, at last, set the road atlas down and pick up Little House again. You turn to the second page, and glancing up, you see your kids are listening with rapt attention. GREAT!

But then you read this sentence: "Muskrats and mink and otter live by the streams." One of your children says, "Hey, Mom, what does a muskrat look like??" And someone else says, "Yeah, and what do minks and otters look like?"

Your twenty minutes has come and gone, and you are hoping to salvage some aspect of the science curriculum before lunch, but with the eager and expectant looks on their faces, you just can't disappoint your kids. So, you dutifully pull out that Reader's Digest book on animals that you found at a garage sale, and turn to the index to find an entry on muskrats, minks, and otters.

Once they see the photo, though, they want to hear all about the animals. "What's it say, Mom?"

You end up spending two hours on what was supposed to take twenty minutes, and you feel like such a failure. If only you were "more regimented, more disciplined, better able to keep your kids on track."

Precious friend, I'm here to tell you that you just wildly SUCCEEDED!! Your kids learned geography, science, history, and literature--in bite-sized doses, just perfect for children. They learned that Mom listens, Mom can find answers, Mom loves to learn--a fabulous model for them! You invested the most precious commodities of all--time and love--in the most valuable people in the world.

You did it!! You used your time in the very best way imaginable.

And I am proud of you.

Here's the magic formula: You have time! You did not run out of it. It is a gift--a precious, treasured, incredibly valuable gift--that you can spend with your children.

Remember, stay relational.

Diana

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