The Gift of Time

Time can be the best gift you can give. While raising our girls, my husband and I both worked full time. He left the house at 6:30 in the morning, and I left by 7:30. Twice a month I had early-morning meetings at school, which meant that we had to leave the house 30 minutes earlier than usual. It may not seem like much, but anyone who has children knows that a 30-minute shift in routine can cause some serious issues. That slight change two times per month threw everyone off schedule and was stressful for all of us.

It was to my surprise that my mom told me she would come over on those two mornings and get the kids ready for daycare. When she offered me this incredible gift, I was stunned. I swear I heard angels singing in the background!

This generous offer gave me time to get prepared for my day. I could just get myself ready for work. No rushing kids to the sitter, hurriedly kissing them goodbye, or praying no one has a meltdown. No driving like mad or rushing to get to school. No speed walking to my classroom for supplies or rushing down the long hallway to get to the meeting on time. And finally, no jumping into my seat around the conference table while trying to look cool as a cucumber. This was incredible - my mom had given me the gift of time! She knew that these two days every month were stressful for me and the kids, so she stepped up to help. 

It was the most incredible gift. In fact, I remember telling my mom that she NEVER had to give me gifts ever again. It was wonderful to go to work stress-free and not have to worry about my girls or the time. I could just walk out of the house alone. I’m so glad I accepted her unexpected gift. 

My advice to you - Accept the help! Show gratitude when people offer to help you. It can truly be a game changer.

What I have learned: Gifts come to us in many different ways. Graciously accept them as they come. 

If you would like to learn more about building routines into you and your kiddos’ schedules, check out my book Raising the Well-Adjusted Child: A Parent’s Manual.