Both my parents were teenagers when they married, and by age 27 my dad had four children. We lived in a subdivision in a 1,200-square-foot house with one bathroom and no air conditioning. My dad worked at Savannah Electric and Power Co. as a lineman. My mother worked to keep the four of us kids from killing each other.
Why was this period of time, the ’50s and ’60s, often referred to as the “good old days”? Why was the divorce rate much lower? Why was it that we knew our neighbors, and we kids spent time running around in the neighborhood and all playing games until the street lights came on, making it clear we better start running home for dinner? Why was dinner always at 6 p.m., with all the family at the table? Why did my dad always say a prayer thanking God for what he had blessed us with that day?
Fast forward to the state of the modern family. According to Forbes, the average age of marriage for women last year was 31, while for men it was 33. The average age of first-time mothers in America was up from 21 to 26, while for fathers, it had increased from 27 to 31. The average number of children in 2020 was between one and two per household.
Why is this period of time so “fast and furious”? Why is the divorce rate now close to 50%? Why is it that we hit the garage door and pull into our garages without speaking to any of our neighbors? It seems like the only games kids play now are on TV — and the last time the family sat together for supper at 6 p.m. was when mom ordered pizza to be delivered. And dad now says a prayer as he turns down the TV while the evening news tells us about people being shot at a high school.
We have become so dependent on others educating our children socially, religiously, relationally, and academically that the opportunity to teach them based on our life experiences is slipping by. They’re missing out on the benefit of that experience, and the value it can have for their future choices in life. By sharing both your greatest accomplishments and your worst choices as a man, woman, dad, or mom — and all the other hats you wear — you’re helping prepare them for making better choices for themselves.
You have your children for a limited amount of time, and that time is getting shorter every day. Make the most of it.
Live inspired,
Jimmy
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