Too often we take the early years for granted. We think we will have time to catch up for the lost times. We somehow believe things don’t matter and because they are young, they won’t remember. I wish I could say all of that was true but I can’t.
When our kids be young adults, we won’t have the power or control we had when they were little. We will not be able to dictate their behavior, their choices, or their attitude. In fact, we will have no control at all.
What we will have is the influence and respect we earned along the way. If we pay our dues and make the appropriate investment, they will care about what we think, want us in their lives, and trust our heart for them. If we fail to recognize the early years as building blocks for the later ones, we will miss out on the opportunities to speak into their lives when they so desperately need a voice of truth and reason.
Love them well. Listen to them often. Pay attention to the things that matter to them. Believe them when they are scared and create a safe place for them to be vulnerable. If they know you have heard them when they are little, they will give you a chance to be heard when they are older.
