Is my life too full?
Opting out the “inevitable”
Inevitable. That’s the word we tell ourselves. Especially as I find myself entering this new phase of life with an 8 and 10-year-old. The word keeps popping up.
It’s inevitable that afternoons will be a race from activity to activity.
It’s inevitable that Saturday will be divide and conquer style taking one to a birthday party and one to a practice or game.
It’s inevitable that dinners will be found in the drive-through.
It’s inevitable that vacations will be spent at traveling tournaments.
And if you love that lifestyle and feel it’s benefiting your kids, go for it.
But if you are a stressed-out parent and your kids feel too much pressure and like they can’t just relax and play outside, then can I comfort you?
It doesn’t have to be inevitable. In fact, if it’s costing you more important things in life, it can’t be.
Families all over the country are choosing a different lifestyle. And though it feels counter-culture, it’s happening more than we think. I shared this reel in stories recently and got so many responses from those opting out of the inevitable.
Families choose rec ball or family sports instead of travel teams.
Families sit around candlelight dinners several times a week instead of in the car.
Families enjoying Saturday together as a family.
I’m one of them, but my life likely sounds boring to most people. In fact, I’m embarrassed to type it out for you.
The girls are home most evenings, with the seasonal night out a week for dance or cheer.
After homework, they play with a friend down the street or their cousins (down the other street) or we head to the neighborhood pool for a late afternoon swim.
A few times a week, we go for family walks after a candlelight dinner.
Fridays are date nights for me and Tyler or family date nights.
Saturdays typically start with donuts with my grandpa and house chores and end with a movie and snuggling.
Sundays are full with church, family lunches, naps, and small group.
You either hated that, which I understand—It’s not normal.
Or you yearn for it, and let me say, part of me sharing this is so I remember how precious this actually is.
The “inevitable life” keeps lurking. And much of this is me preaching to myself to hold on to the beautiful and simple life we have.
We’ve had our busy seasons. The pruning process is not a one-and-done event. It’s a steady rhythm that, if ignored, results in a fast-paced life that we look up from and think, “How did we get here?” Maybe things used to be simple. I hope this post is a gentle “Woah. Let’s reevaluate some things.”