Hammer Time! The Process of Parenting

After wanting to do this for a long time, my wife and I were finally able to get new counter tops in our bathrooms this week.  To save some money, I decided to tackle the chore of disconnecting the plumbing and tearing out the old counter tops and sinks myself.  And thankfully, I remembered I have a son with a helpful spirit who is growing toward manhood and is very eager to learn “man stuff” from his dad.  Especially when the “man stuff” involves smashing stuff with a hammer.  He helped me out by handing me the tools I needed as I did the initial plumbing work – learning a few more lessons about tool names and functions in the process.  And then the real fun began…

HAMMER TIME!  As you can see from the heinous 80s wallpaper in the picture, I had already taken down the mirror, so I knew there was no major damage my son could do if he wasn’t the most controlled in his counter top demo efforts.  I took a deep breath, handed him the hammer, and invited him to have at it.  Even though the counter had to be broken up to be removed to make way for the new one, it was still a bit nerve wracking to entrust this demolition job to my pre-teen son.  But I knew he would thoroughly enjoy it, and it would be a good experience for him.  And for me.  To let go, trust him, and watch him enjoy a new and powerful experience.  Long story, short – he did a fine job and enjoyed immensely.  It was a shining moment for him.  And for our family.

So much of parenting – when we do it well – follows this pattern.

Prepare – Equip – Guide – Trust – Release – Encourage

For the next six+ blog entries (which are now linked via the listing above, plus this bonus post), I will be expanding on the steps of this crucial parenting process.  We will be discussing what is important about each step, how to most effectively walk through each step as a parent at different seasons in our kids’ lives, and what are some of the most common pitfalls along the way.  As always, I welcome your questions and feedback.  Feel free to comment on the post, or email me directly.  I am no longer on Facebook or Twitter, so if you want to share and discuss there, just know that it will be without any further commentary from me.  I look forward to sharing this series with you, and may you and your family enjoy your own “hammer times” along your journey together.