Beginnings, Endings, and the In Between

June is a month of change. We need only look around to see spring evolving into summer with its balmy breezes, pops of floral color, and bad hair days (humidity can be so cruel). As the school year comes to an end, your family is probably experiencing some changes, too.  Perhaps your child is marking a passage from preschool into elementary school, or a transition to middle or high school. Maybe your ‘baby’ graduated from high school this year, like Wendy’s son, Jack and Rebecca’s son, Tim. Or your beautiful daughter (mine!) got engaged to the love of her life. These are all important transitions, milestones, and causes for family celebration!  

Embrace the changes; they’re inevitable. 

One certainty that I learned from my own parenting experience: kids grow up fast! Yesterday they were running in the playground and a minute later they’re adulting. Kids change, grow, learn, and develop right before our eyes. Family dynamics shift. Parents, you’re going to change too; it’s how life goes. You’ll always be the parent, however, right now there is a progressive transition happening that leads to not parenting them. It’s when you eventually let them fly.

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. Roots give them bearing and a sense of belong, but also wings to help free them from constraints and prejudices and give them other ways to travel (or rather, to fly).”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Celebrate the Milestones

Whatever changes your family is experiencing now, acknowledge them.  Celebrate the milestones – the end of one phase, the beginning of a new – and all the stuff in between.  This helps your kids to feel seen, heard, and loved – and that goes a long way as they develop the skills and characteristics they’ll need in life. And, you’ll be sharing love and creating happy memories.

When we remember that parenting is a gift that we get to participate in, it helps us prioritize, plan, and make wise decisions while raising children.  Your attention, your energy, and the love that you give them will never be wasted. Keep God at the center, pray for your family, pray with your family, and embrace this time of parenting your beautiful gifts from God.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NLT)

Ages & Stages

The California Department of Education shares the Ages and Stages of Development that I hope you’ll find helpful and interesting.  It covers the developmental stages and learning styles  and what children need at each age and stage of growth.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

Titus 2:7 (NLT)

Please join us!

On Sunday, June 25, we will be celebrating the children, graduates, and all ministry volunteers at CCC! It’s going to be a special day! We hope to see you there.

Wishing you happy parenting and joyful celebrating!

Peggy Kelly

CCC Family Ministry
cccbillerica.org