Time Management.
The older your son gets the busier his days become. One thing we have barely touched on is time management. We all have ways of dealing with this in our own world.
I like that old email that went round and round about the professor using stones and rocks to illustrate his point. It went something like this, he had a huge empty jar in front of him surrounded by small stones and large rocks. The gist of the story was that you can always drop the small pebbles in this jar but if you don’t put the big rocks in first they will never fit.
Our days are like that jar. If your son has a 10 page report to do, he needs to start it first. It cannot be the last thing he does that day or it probably won’t fit into the time he has left.
How do we teach this at a young age? Using chores as an example might be another good way to reference it in a young mind. Ask your son to plan an imaginary day. Give him a list of things to do during his imaginary day, including dog “poop” patrol. See if he comes up with a plan that has him doing the most time consuming, least favorite thing first. This is not likely to happen. If dog patrol appears last on his list for the day, you will have a teachable moment. Dog patrol after dark is almost impossible.
If you are a visual person, like I am, you are probably a list maker. I make out a list of the things that I need to do each day and I am happy. I am in control. I now have a plan.
My husband rarely makes a list and his day goes just fine! He is happy and he is in control of his day too.
Find what works for you, then make time management a priority in your life. Share your personal tips with your son. He will really need this guidance as he grows older and especially when he reaches high school and college age.
There you go. Another lesson for today. Now, go and love your son in your own special way. Some days are long but, trust me, the years will just disappear.
Love,
MarnaKay
Boys 