Recently, I was sitting in front of my computer and the screensaver flicked on and started scrolling through photos of the last 3 years of our lives … the 3 years that have probably changed us more than any other … the three years that have included our children.

As I was sitting there watching, it struck me - What a lot of packed life has been squashed into those 3 short years. And what an impact I personally have had on 3 little lives.

I was overwhelmed by the responsibility that my wife and I have in the moulding and shaping of these young lives, and the relatively short time we have to do it – just over six-and-a half thousand days from the day they were born till the day they turn 18.

Take out school and sleep, and you’re probably left with only about 2000 days that we as parents have to mould and equip our children with the principles and skills for a successful life.

One Child expert put it this way, “Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.”

If you’re lacking inspiration. . . or having a rough time with your kids . . . the answers are out there –

Where family and parenting is concerned, there is some amazing wisdom filling the bookshelves of good book shops.

One dad put it this way, “When they’re small for the ‘we’ll do it later’ routine. Actually, its not them we’re fooling but us. “One of these days” turns out to be “none of these days.”

I’m Tim Sisarich, and I’m serious when I say that I don’t waste another minute.

Tim Sisarich, Executive Director Focus on the Family NZ as heard on Scrubcutters , Newstalk ZB

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