Missions + Preschoolers = Mission Friends

Slow it Down

I love sitting in front of the Christmas tree early in the morning with the lights all twinkling and the house quiet and still.  It’s so special to me.  Sacred, in a way.

This morning as I enjoyed the tree, I took notice of how many ornaments my boys have on the tree, many made when they were just preschoolers.  They were so little…so long ago, it seems.  Then again, wasn’t it just yesterday?

When I was a new mom, I heard this sentiment over and over again:  “Enjoy this time.  It flies by.  They’ll be grown before you know it!”  I MUST have heard that approximately 9 million times over the course of my son’s early childhood. 

That phrase is hard to hear when your life consists of diapers, feedings, and changing their clothes (and yours) because of “accidents.”  Then you enter a phase of potty-training, learning manners, culling disobedience, and letting them attempt to dress themselves.  (This phase may extend well into the teenage years…just saying.) The “terrible twos” skip age two but show themselves at age three (sneaky).  Before you know what’s happened, they’re learning to read and getting ready for Kindergarten and the Preschool years are over.

Am I feeling sentimental this morning?  I guess so.  The twinkly lights do that to me.

But I wanted to take a minute to encourage you, Parent of a Preschooler.

The Christmas season can be so stressful and busy.  I know firsthand.  We want it all to be “just right.”  But in spite of the screaming to-do list and all of the many things you want to do to make the season extra-special for your family, try now and then to slow it down. 

Take some time to savor the season with your preschooler.   

Look at the pretty tree together.   

Read the Christmas story one more time.   Marvel at the miracle of Jesus’ birth together.   

Slow it down a little and soak it all in.

You’ll be glad you did.

 - Tracie 

(Preschool Ministry Associate/Volunteer Coordinator)