Raising an Elementary-aged Child

Maybe you remember those years fondly from having raised kids yourself, or maybe you are looking forward in anticipation to becoming a parent, or getting past the bottle phase. Perhaps you are currently in the throes of it yourself.

Our experience raising elementary school-age children has been fun, challenging, difficult, rewarding, educational, exciting, terrifying, and more. Maybe a more direct way to sum it up would be to say it has been dynamic. I don’t know exactly when it happens, maybe when the personality starts to emerge, that parenting gets really exciting. For a dad, it is likely much different than a mom. I didn’t feel like I had much of an influence or impact until we were able to communicate. Asking and answering questions has been an enjoyable part. I feel that we have grown together to some degree. Celebrating success with them has been a wonderful blessing.

Officially, Kindergarten marks the beginning of this era of discovery, and Kindergarten is a big step for a developing person. We start to form relationships outside the home with friends and teachers. We are exploring the world around us, and everything is new. It is an exciting season of life! As we grow, we change. It is perhaps a default of our human tendencies for us to want to set a plan into motion and just hit the cruise control. Parenting is one such task that does not afford the luxury of a repeatable solution or standard operating procedures. Dynamic. Yes, that word again. It means that there really isn’t a quick, easy, repeatable solution to parenting. It requires constant iteration. A nebulous concept. It is tiring. What you did today may work, but it may not tomorrow. Knowing it is not an easy task may make it seem like it is not worth doing, but the truth is exactly the opposite. Caring for, raising, nurturing and guiding a child in the ways of God is the single most important and rewarding job on this earth, period. No pressure, right?

I am not sure where we would be, or how we would stack up parenting wise, but we are certain of one thing. This job of raising elementary-age children is not something that anyone is equipped to do based on their own ability. Maybe a select few have amazing gifts that equip them, but the majority of us are working at it and praying about it diligently. We have all seen the horrors of what can happen when parenting is attempted without God’s provision or a network of support. Tragic things that don’t even bear repeating. The evidence is clear, it is essential to have a strong faith relationship with God, and the counsel/support of others, in order to persevere and thrive in the midst of this season of life.

According to WebMD, here are a few of the symptoms of parental burnout:

• Limited tolerance (shorter temper)
• Brain fog/Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Increased stress levels
• Depression
• Feelings of isolation
• Poor sleep

I wonder how many thought “all of the above.” I feel that. Below, you will find some scripture references dealing with these symptoms. This is NOT in any way intended to replace an actual medical or professional diagnosis or treatment. These are strictly scripture references which may bring you comfort in your struggles.

• Limited tolerance (shorter temper)

o   Ephesians 4:26-27

o   Psalm 37:8

o   James 1:19-20

o   Romans 12:21

• Brain fog/Confusion

o   1 Corinthians 14:33

o   2 Corinthians 11:3

o   2 Thessalonians 2:11

o   2 Peter 2:3

• Forgetfulness

o  Jeremiah 2:32

o  John 14:26

• Increased stress levels

o   2 Timothy 1:7

o   Joshua 1:9

o   Proverbs 12:25

o   Psalm 46:10

o   Philippians 4:6-7

• Depression

o   1 Peter 5:7

o   John 16:33

o   Psalm 40:1-3

o   Psalm 42:11

o   Isaiah 41:10

• Feelings of isolation

o   1 Corinthians 12:14

o   Psalm 34:17-20

o   1 Corinthians 12:12

o   Joshua 1:5

• Poor sleep

o   Matthew 11:28-30,

o   Psalm 23:2-3

o   Isaiah 40:31

o   Psalm 4:8

Trusting in God, and his provision for your life, making him the center of your family, and the motivation for what and how you parent, might be some of the few things you have real control over. Focusing on Him and worrying less could be a powerful tool. We are also all here to be a blessing to each other. There are a great many things a man can do in this world that bring satisfaction, but watching our children grow and develop has been the single greatest joy of my life. It’s a tough thing that is totally worth the effort. If you are parenting elementary-age kiddos, in the words of Red Green, “keep your stick on the ice; we are all in this together, and I’m pulling for ya!”