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 Rhonda Robinson
Rhonda Robinson is a mother of nine, and grandmother of 16, who believes the single most powerful force in America today is a vigilant mother, unafraid to nurture and protect her children.
Still married to her high school sweetheart, Rhonda is a homeschooling mother by day, and a speaker, weekly newspaper columnist, and freelance writer by night (actually, really early morning before anyone is up—but it’s still dark out, so that counts.)
Spanning 20 years of homeschooling and childbirth, Rhonda has gained over 572 pounds and lost 500, nursed a total of 17 years, and changed at least 29, 952 diapers, and rocked over 5,000 miles of tearful terrain. She holds a Master’s degree in laundry and speaks fluent toddler.
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Changing Lanes in the
Fast Lane of Life
Summer
time can take family life in the fast lane. Literally; parents and
children rushing in a vehicle loaded with lawn chairs, racing to get
kids to ball games on time, endless practices, swim lessons or any of
the hundreds of things designed to keep kids busy.
One theory is
that by keeping the kids busy, it keeps them out of trouble. There is a
fair amount of truth to that. The old saying, “The Devil finds work for
idle hands to do” comes to mind.
But the impact on quality time spent between the children and the parents can be severe without realizing it.
Most
parents today are fully aware of how important the time with our
children really is. Fathers in general no longer see their role in
their children’s life as being merely a provider. In fact most resent being thought of as “just a paycheck.”
And
I believe we have learned a lesson from the proverbial father who stood
dumbfounded as his wife and children were walking out the door, leaving
him when he lamented, “What do you mean I don’t love you? Haven’t
I worked every Christmas; I seldom do anything for myself! I haven’t
even taken a vacation in ten years! All I do is work, and I do it all
for you and the kids!”
The sad irony of this father’s predicament is all but humorous.
But
then again, what about the children? They will leave us behind one day.
But when their hand is on the doorknob, what will be their parting
memories? What will be ours? Will we wonder where the child went that once ran through that door, calling for mom?
What if we put the child in the father’s predicament? “What do you mean I grew up too fast? I had a very full childhood. Didn’t I play in little league, soccer, JFL? I went to camp every summer for gosh sakes.”
“You were right there mom, you drove me to every practice, meetings and parties. Well, until I got my license anyway.”
We
are aware of the importance of guarding our commitments that take us
away from our children too much, but do we think often enough to guard
our children’s time away from us? They can easily get caught up in a
flurry of activity.
Don’t get me wrong; some of my fondest
memories of my children growing up are those childhood activities,
which kept us in the fast lane. The trick is, learning how to change
lanes safely--at the right time.
When traveling down the
interstate, even while obeying all the traffic rules and watching our
speed, it’s still difficult at best to see the wild flowers along the
road. It takes a keen eye, and quick reflexes to know when to pull over
and stop and enjoy the scenery, and the moment--before it passes.
The
memorable moments we spend with our children, ones they will carry with
them the rest of their lives, are seldom wrapped in bright colored
ribbons. They are more often found in the
smallest of moments; catching fireflies, making brownies, fishing or
getting caught in the rain.
We are a productivity centered society. Saturday afternoon naps are seldom taken without at least a grain of guilt and skipping stones has become a lost art.
To
keep my family from publicly stoning me, I will admit that learning
to shift gears and slow down is one of the hardest things to do.
As the summer
goes into full swing, I find myself holding family meetings just to
find out where everyone is going that day, and just recently I was
forced by a 9-year-old to pinky swear that I will not forget to come
outside and catch fireflies—again. It
was then that Joyce Hisler’s words resonated in my heart, "No woman is
so misled as the woman who has such a busy schedule, that she hasn't
time to listen to her children. She expects to play with them someday,
but it is today that bridges must be built, from the soul to the body
to the spirit."
Copyright Rhonda Robinson 2006
Published by East Central Communications
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...Tedd Tripp speaks on parenting...
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