There is something about a new season that always fills me with hope.

New memories. New choices. New experiences. New lessons. New opportunities to grow.

But new can also feel overwhelming. Parents-I know I am not alone in this feeling. School begins, activities return, and calendars fill quickly.  My color-coded Google Calendar looks like a pack of Skittles thrown up on it;). Suddenly, Adam and I look at the same 24 hours and wonder:

How are we possibly going to fit it all in? 

Then we remember….that feeling is normal. 

At the beginning of something new, we often experience a sense of scarcity. There does not seem to be enough time, energy, or space for everything. Then we establish routines, build structure, and become more consistent. What initially felt impossible slowly becomes normal!  Then I feel like I am back to having my mom cape on. I won’t lie though…the first few weeks are rough lol.

It is the same for our children—I actually just told Baylee and Brooklynne over the weekend; we do not need more time. They need to learn how to use their time more intentionally.

Let’s be honest: 30 more minutes a week will not make life-changing bandwidth…45 minutes a week won’t!  But learning better ways and making better choices—now that is a lesson that multiplies far beyond time!

They scroll… We scroll.

They TikTok…We text.

They Snapchat… We send “one” more email.

We are all navigating a world designed to compete for our attention.  To be truthful, our kids are navigating a world that is partly foreign to us (well, I know I for one just figured out how to dooberdash food so…)
Time management is not something children automatically know how to do. It is a skill that must be taught, practiced, and strengthened. I can’t wait to help them live that lesson out loud each week in classes!

Friends, the beginning may still feel messy. There may be forgotten shoes, rushed dinners, and days when everyone wonders whether the schedule will work.  There will be days the google calendar wasn’t looked at, kids are forgotten to be picked up (yes, yes, it happens don’t lie)  and days we wonder why we have a kitchen at all.  I have made friends with the Chick-fil-A drive-through. It’s bad when they don’t say “My pleasure” but “See you tomorrow!”.

So, in this new season, let’s remind ourselves—and model for our children—not to be so hasty. Let’s give ourselves grace and time.

Give the routine time to become a routine.

The goal is not to fill every minute or raise perfectly productive children. It is to teach them that they control how their time is spent. That may be the most important lesson of all.

What excites me most about a new season is watching our Champions take on something new—not because they already have everything figured out, but because they are learning that unfamiliar does not mean impossible.

Season 22 is for you—for them, everything they are called to do, everything they are ready to learn, and every opportunity waiting ahead.

We don’t need more time.

We simply need a new way to use it.

Looking forward to Building Champions together!

And….

Yes, I DO need to cook more;).

XOXO,

Miss Jennifer