Last night we had dinner together. At home.  We talked about Phil's upcoming trip to Africa, heard his concerns which we can cover in prayer.  We talked about the upcoming basketball season with four teams (parents rotate, we've already mapped out the schedule).  We talked about Hannah's midstate choir audition on Saturday and how we are going to get her to Brentwood,  Phil off to the airport, David to a football game in Goodlettesville, etc...   

Our main challenges as parents have evolved as our kids have gotten older.   At ages 1,2,4,and 5, our challenges were fatigue, time alone EVER, consistency in "mothering", patience to name a few. And stomach virus's.    Ten years later, children ages 11,12,14, and 15, most of my challenges revolve around management of several key areas.  

Managing for everyone to get enough sleep (teens and preteens tend to procrastinate).   

Managing to get everyone where they need to go. Practices and activities are longer, later (or earlier - 6 am before school for example) and more frequent (3-5 times per week rather than 1 or 2).  Even with limits, 1 sport, 1 church, 1 music activity times 4 kids divided by 2 parents equals conflict management. 

Managing to eat dinner together EVER at whatever time is deemed necessary around Phil's ever changing shift and practices/meetings.  

Managing the laundry.  Maybe it is because everyones clothes are bigger?  Or maybe because they wear one thing to school, one to practice/game, and then another after practice? Maybe because we are rarely home?  Whatever the cause, laundry is a challenge I am not winning. 

Managing meaningful conversation with each other.   Phil and I together and with each child. There is sooo much to talk about, to talk through at these ages and when a teenager is ready to talk it is time to listen, sleep or no sleep.  Children this age are amazing to talk to as their family's values and opinions are wrestled through and become their own.  This can be delightful and heart wrenching all within the matter of 10 minutes.  

Some of the best of it happens around the dinner table, when we all can get there.  It may be at 4:30 or we may eat at 9, but when we get to sit down together, table set, candles lit, conversation flowing, oh how sweet it is.