Do the driving without the whining

Playing rugby: it is a great sport and teaches kids plenty of skills, including social skills and I am grateful that my boys can play the game but ultimately, God knows what is needed to shape my boys into the men He wants them to be, and for some, it might include playing rugby and for others not. God knows best, His ways and training are far greater than the lessons learnt on a rugby field.

I have a friend with four young boys. And each one, doing some sports activity in the afternoons, equates to a very hectic week! And she is not alone. Many moms with school-going kids face the same hectic afternoon schedule. Including myself.

The key question is why? Why do we, as moms, drive ourselves silly after our kids' afternoon activities?

So often, we do things just because everyone else does it or because we are afraid our kids will be "deprived" if they don't do it.

Okay. Warning: when you do things out of fear or comparison, the end result will never be a good one.

Why do you do what you do, dear taxi driver-mom?

Am I against being busy? Am I against sports activities... academic achievements... cultural extra-murals? Not at all.

But I am against doing for doing's sake.

I am against worshiping some pie in the sky perception that "if i don't do this then my kids will have a shortcoming in life".

I am against bowing down to the god of sport and academics and arts that dictates and states that it alone provides access to the highway of success.

God's Word says: Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

But we say: "Trust in Life's Opportunities with all your money and time and lean on your own understanding/ experience. In all your ways- sport, cultural and educational- make sure you have the best training because then you'll go straight onto the highway of success.

*OOPS*...

No, God's Word says:

Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart...

Trust in the LORD with ALL -yes, that includes the part of our motherly hearts that wants only the best for our kids.

God knows BEST.

Commit your ways and your plans and your desires to Him. Let Him show you what you should do, even in terms of what your kids should do (and it will be different for each household because we have different budgets, family situations and emotional capacities). But when we hear what God has to say on the matter and obey -even though we might feel like we are "depriving" our kids-  He will make their paths straight.

He- THE ALMIGHTY GOD

He will give them the best future. Far greater than what we can hope to provide.

[Side note: I have a testimony in this. I have seen this happen in my own life despite the shortcomings of so-called childhood opportunities. See also My-Desire_Post 

An exceptional new study on the link between narcissism and leadership was recently published in a top academic journal, Academy of Management. The study showed that increased narcissism was associated with higher parental income. In other words, the study suggests that if you grew up rich, and of course, with that, the likelihood of increased "childhood opportunities",  you are likely to be a less effective leader because you are also probably a bigger narcissist. Hmm, food for thought...]

Again, like I mentioned previously, I am not against these opportunities. My kids do plenty but I do it with a conviction that it is what God wants (which means practically that it is within our financial budget and within my own emotional capacity) and therefore, (this is very important, dear taxi driver-mom): I do the driving without the whining!!