Category: Timing

Scheduled Bedtimes

We have scheduled bedtimes in our home for all the kids from the youngest, pre-teen, and teenagers; yet, most nights our kids are not in bed at their scheduled times because of extracurricular activities in the evening—Family Home Evening (FHE); Latter-day Saints Young Men’s/ Young Women’s; Scouts; sports practices and games; family movie night and weekend down time.

Tonight, we were all home.  It was a relaxed night. We had a casual dinner, the kids played basketball and rollerbladed outside, they played indoors, and we were able to maintain scheduled bedtimes. It was fantastic and very much needed! We get up so early in the mornings and late nights are rough. It was a blessing tonight that each of the kids were settled on or near their bedtimes.

Although, within 20 minutes after settling my youngest in bed, he came out sharing with me he needed medicine for 23 mosquito bites and he was unable to sleep because they were itchy. Fortunately, it occurred just after he went to bed so he was still able to get a good night’s rest after I applied the Benadryl Gel to each of his mosquito bites. We try, don’t we?

Our nightly routines (family prayer and scriptures, brushing teeth, pajamas on, personalized one-on-one parent/child time) are consistent.  Scheduled bedtimes do not change, but annually on their birthdays.  At that time, their bedtime extends 15 minutes later for the rest of the year and then changes again on their birthday extended another 15 minutes and so on. Bedtimes are based on their ages. For instance, when they are 12, bedtime is at 9pm; when they are 18, bedtime is at 10:30pm; and 15 minute increments in between. The actual time our kids go to bed changes nightly depending on the night and what activity is happening.  If nothing is going on, which is rare, regular bedtime schedules are maintained.

Are you able to maintain a regular bedtime schedule for your kids? If so, how do you do it? Do your kids know the schedule and the routine even on off days when you are out later than bedtime?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Give Yourself A Cushion

I am constantly saying to my kids and reminding myself, “give yourself a cushion”, especially in the morning as we are heading off to school. We live quite a distance from the Middle School and the High School—give or take on any given day, it could be as little as 20 minutes to an hour or more to get to school based on weather conditions, traffic accidents, or construction.

Sometimes we learn about when those occurrences are happening through a traffic app, receiving a text message, or by radio. Because, on most days, we don’t know until later on down the road what delays, if any, we may encounter, I have encouraged my kids to allow themselves a cushion to arrive to school safely and on time.

There is anxiousness when leaving the house at just the right amount of time and then something unplanned or unexpected occurs and there’s a shortage of time. I’ve expressed to my kids that I love them and care about them and that safety is more important than rushing to be on time. Leaving with plenty of time to take a detour or hang out in traffic if necessary due to it being backed up or slow and go helps alleviate stress and feeling rushed.

On those days when we have left our home in plenty of time to get to our destination and any one of the above events has occurred, it has been a tender mercy I have not felt the pressure and worry of not getting my kids to school on time. I have been able to stay relaxed, laugh, and enjoy the drive interacting pleasantly with whomever is in the car with me, no matter the added length of time it takes to get to school. In addition, it is a tender mercy when my children who drive themselves on these longer commute days text me from school that they have arrived safely and were punctual because of the time cushion they gave themselves before leaving home.

When has your commute to a destination been delayed for whatever reason and because you left home with plenty of cushion time, you felt relaxed and comfortable that you would still arrive on time?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Fearing a Dog Rescue

I have an absolute fear of dogs. When I was younger, while walking home, I was bitten from behind by an unfriendly dog. Since that time, I have experienced anxiety around dogs—small, medium, large, any kind of dog, even ones that are friendly.

This morning, as I was driving home after dropping off my children at school, I saw a loose dog near my house getting into a garbage bag sitting out for trash pick up. The dog looked familiar, possibly our neighbor’s dog. I drove past him, backed into my driveway, and then thought about what I should do. I immediately drove back to the dog thinking at the same time, “I want to help, but I’m afraid of dogs so I don’t want to get out and guide the dog back home. I also do not have the neighbor’s phone number with me.  If I went back home to get the number, I may lose the dog”.

As I approached the dog, I rolled down my window and spoke the name I thought may be his to see if the dog would respond. I said, “Hi, Hello!, go home bud, go home” with a soft and gentle voice and tone. He looked up and I knew it was him. Even though I have a fear of dogs up close, I like them from a distance and I was able to speak to him in a kind and friendly way all the while staying inside my car. For several minutes, I encouraged and invited him to go home and he slowly began returning back towards his house at the very time, right behind me, a car pulled up and the neighbor’s wife got out and came over to her dog.

I thought to myself, “How Cool”!  It was a tender mercy I was able to help guide their dog back home, even with my fear, without getting out of the car and the timing of the neighbor’s return home was fabulous!

It was also amazing when the neighbor’s husband spoke to their dog, the familiarity—how and what was spoken—was identical to how and what I spoke. In addition, it was a tender mercy I was able to briefly interact with the neighbors when I only see and visit with them from time to time as we infrequently cross paths. Although I was a bit self-conscious because I was still in my pajamas, my hair was a mess, my make up was streaked and my teeth were not yet brushed; nonetheless, I was grateful for the interaction and being able to assist in their dog’s return home despite my fear.

Have you had an experience where you worked through a fear to help with an animal rescue?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Timing Of A Laundered White Shirt

It was a hectic, chaotic Sunday morning rush to get out the door for early morning church. The night before, the white clothes were washed and had been moved to the dryer. On our way out and stopping by the laundry room to pull a shirt from the dryer, it was a tender mercy that right inside, in the front, was the very white shirt I needed.

In that moment, I expressed my appreciation, gratitude, and love to our Heavenly Father. Even in a moment of chaos and when things were hectic, He was mindful and aware of my needs and my desire for our family to arrive to church on time. Such a simple thing and yet huge and very much appreciated.  The gratitude I felt in my heart for a Heavenly Father who blesses me in small and simple ways and acknowledging His hands in my life that morning was truly impactful.

When have you had an experience similar—at crunch time, a blessing “falls in your lap”?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Wake Up Call

As I was taking a much needed nap and was sound asleep, it was a tender mercy that although my alarm clock was set, I awoke 45 minutes earlier than it was scheduled to go off to see a call had just come through from the school nurse regarding one of my children. I was grateful I awoke when I did to call the nurse back and was available for my child who needed me at that time.

Even though, prior to napping, my body was physically tired and I could have slept the duration of the time set, there was a need for me to wake up sooner. I know Heavenly Father was instrumental in my waking up when I did.

When have you “out of the blue” or unexpectedly become more alert and awoken suddenly to be of help to someone else?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Rushed For Time

Due to a spontaneous delay, while one of my children and I were heading to school, there was no time to spare to arrive when the bell was scheduled to ring. Along the way, I was praying we would be able to arrive on time all the while obeying the law. I believe in miracles. It was a tender mercy my prayer was answered when we pulled up and my son entered the classroom just as attendance was being called. It was convenient and a huge blessing that his portable classroom was beside a parent/teacher parking lot and I was able to drop him off feet from his classroom door.

There are moments of unexpected, unplanned delays. Those things that matter to us also matter to Him, our Heavenly Father. As we seek Him through prayer with real intent and our will is aligned with His will, we are blessed. Miracles do happen.

Along the same lines,  I have experienced leaving for church with just the right amount of time needed to get from my house to the church to arrive promptly, barring no delays and maintaining the speed limit. My desire to leave early is thwarted at times, and instead I find myself running later than planned. Wanting to be on time, I pray for that desired outcome and it is a tender mercy when every light along the way is green. In the hustle and bustle, my heart was in the right place and I was blessed.

I recognize that there are those times that my desires do not align with His will because Heavenly Father has a different plan for me.

I recall a story I heard of when a classroom of college students went to take their final exam. They entered the room where they supposed their test would be given. On the chalkboard was a message with information to a new location. As the students scurried across campus to get to the test site on time, many were unaware of opportunities along the way to help and assist others. Unbeknownst to them, this was their test, to which they became aware of when they arrived at the new testing location. I have come to learn that there are delays that have a purpose and a reason and there are those that are unexpected such as traffic and construction. It is in those moments I contemplate how I can best manage those things outside of my control. I am grateful for those moments when I am in a hurry and I have been blessed to arrive at my destination on time. I am also grateful for the recognition and acknowledgment of those times when delayed, blessings were present then also, unseen in the moment, but felt and known, sometimes as a protection from potential danger.

What experiences have you had when you have been rushed for time and running late with a desire to be on time? In the end, were you on time? Did you recognize Heavenly Father’s help in blessing you with arriving on time? Maybe you had a flat tire, and someone stopped to help? Or, you were familiar with a faster path when your original path was under construction or blocked due to an accident? If you did not make it on time, what did you learn and recognize along the way?

tendermercym♥ments~jld