Summer Breaks Can Be Satisfying For All Involved
Parent-to-Parent E/4:29
Prayers, hopes and fears for our children’s wellbeing and benefit are part of being a parent and grandparent. Another part is giving them strength through comforting hugs and encouraging words. Any opportunity we have to soak up time with them fills our love tank and theirs! For all the best intentions, however, circumstances that pop up during our hoped-for time together can be upsetting. Take courage in truth! We will love our children no matter how old we get. Be bold in Spirit! As our children get older, they experience and express appreciation for us in new ways! Don’t be afraid to change with them. Hear the wisdom that a fellow parent gives to help you create healthy expectations, reduce the stress, and lead into a summer break filled with life-giving, satisfying, joy-filled time for everyone involved.
Tips for Making Summer Break Enjoyable for All
Can you believe this semester is almost over? For some that means graduation is just around the corner. Congratulations!! For those with a few more semesters left, let’s talk about our expectations for the summer break. The family dynamics are about to change again. Think about what your expectations are for the break. Have a conversation with your students so that things will go smoothly and keep hurt feelings at bay. Mine always had her favorite restaurants and things she wanted me to fix. And to sleep! What are the non-negotiables? Is there a family trip planned? What is the number one thing they would like to do while home?
The simple things like pick up after yourself, put dishes in the dishwasher, etc., hopefully won’t require prompting. “Encourage each other and build each other up” as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says. Your student will be coming home with a little more maturity, experiences, independence, and hopefully spiritual growth as well as being responsible for their schedule, including free time, what they eat, and when they sleep. You’ll always be his or her mom or dad but to have the honor to be your mini adult’s confidante, shoulder to lean on, encourager, prayer warrior, and the person they come to for advice and to share their thoughts is priceless. Enjoy the time together, every hug and late night movie. It goes by so fast. In just a few short months, it will be time to switch gears and adjust to a different set of family dynamics once [they return to school].
“Lord, guide her (him) continually. Satisfy her soul and strengthen her in hard times. Help her to flourish” (Isaiah 58:11). Wanda B., Graduate
May prayers like Isaiah 58:11 be lifted to the LORD by dads, moms, grandads, and grandmas every minute across our LU Family this month and next!
Blessings to all who hear.
Parent-to-Parent E/4:29’s contributing authors are parents of students who are currently enrolled in undergraduate degree programs or have recently graduated and are continuing their higher education in a graduate degree program at Liberty. Each month of the blog, Parent-to-Parent E/4:29 offers practical tips, helpful guidance, and encouraging wisdom that they may serve you “only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (as in, Ephesians 4:29).
We invite you to write. If you are interested in sharing your insights and tips with fellow parents, email your name and student’s ID to LUFamily@liberty.edu today!