Parenting is all about time.
It is about time for playing and teaching. It is about time for correcting and snuggling. It is even about time for toilet training, but that's another story.
Thankfully, time can do much more than passively glide by, watching parents struggle. Time can actually step up and help parents solve many of the issues they face every day.
Star of the Day
Several years ago, at a Relief Society activity on parenting, a young mother quietly stood to share her thoughts. Even though they were spoken in hushed tones, they were magical.
She said she had started to notice that her four young children fought over almost everything: which game to play, which song to sing, which show to watch, who goes first, eating crackers or chips. There seemed to be no end to the arguments.
After prayerfully searching for answers, she had an epiphany one day. She assigned each child one day of the week. On that day, the child was the "Star of the Day."
The star got to make all of the choices for that day. He chose the games, the shows, the treats, everything. The child said the family prayer and was also assigned all of the errands for the day. He or she took out the stinky diapers and helped with the dishes.
This simple idea eliminated many of the battles. When issues would arise, Mom reminded the children whose day it was, and many of the fights solved themselves.
Minute minder
A kitchen timer can be a parent's best friend.
When two children are arguing about one toy, the timer can come to the rescue. After deciding which child gets to go first, maybe the Star of the Day, Mom or Dad can set the timer for a few minutes. The happy ding will signal the waiting child that it is his or her turn and let the other child know that turn is done.
Timers are also great for chores. When the kids are roughhousing but the house needs to be tidied up, parents can pull out their trusty timer. The kids win because they can play until the timer chimes, but then they know it is time to clean up.
Timers can go the other way, too. When parents have assigned a chore, it is sometimes fun to set the timer, and everyone who completes the chore before the timer rings earns a special treat.
From tracking turns on the Wii to monitoring piano practicing, timers are a beautiful invention.
Parenting takes time. However, parents don't have to be trapped in the ticking of stressful seconds. They can allow time to work for them, which will work for their children also.
Melissa DeMoux is a stay-at-home mother of six young children who lives in West Valley City, Utah.
e-mail: mddemoux@gmail.com