How to Eat an Elephant… One Bite at a Time

If you’re a MecKidz parent, chances are you know the feeling. You’ve bought the parenting book we recommended, bookmarked the blog post, signed up for the Meck Institute class, downloaded the devotional, and listened to the sermon. Then, just when you feel like you’ve got enough on your plate, someone sends you one more resource and says, “You really need to read this!”

Before long, trying to become a better parent can start to feel like another full-time job.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to figure it all out today!

There’s an old saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

The same can be true when it comes to parenting.

Parenting comes with an endless list of things to learn.

How do I discipline well?
How do I navigate technology?
How do I talk about faith?
What do I do when my child is anxious?
How do I help siblings get along?
How much freedom is too much?
How do I prepare my child for the world?
Etc… etc… etc…

Those are important questions. And there are wonderful Christian resources, books, classes, podcasts, and people who can help you think through them.

But you don't need to tackle every parenting question at once!

Pick one.

Maybe right now you need to focus on building a stronger connection with your child. Maybe you need to work on consistency with discipline. Maybe your family needs to create some boundaries around technology. Maybe you simply need to spend more time praying for your children.

Reflect on the area you feel like is most pressing right now and start there.

Take just one bite.

The Bible reminds us that we don't have to figure everything out on our own:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” James 1:5

What if, instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to know about parenting, you simply asked God, “What do I need to focus on right now?”

You don't have to become the perfect parent overnight. In fact, you never will and your kids don't need a perfect parent. They need a parent who is willing to keep growing, learning, apologizing, praying and trying again.

Parenting is a long journey, not a parenting seminar you have to finish by Friday.

So instead of looking at the entire elephant, look at the next bite.

Read one chapter. Try one new idea. Have one important conversation. Make one small change. Pray one more prayer.

Do one thing and stick with it. Then give yourself time to see what happens.

When MecKidz suggests all of these parenting resources, it isn't to see how many books you can finish or how many classes you can attend. The goal is to allow what you're learning to actually make a difference in your family.

One truth lived out is worth more than ten ideas sitting in a notebook.

And remember, you are not parenting alone.

God is at work in you, too. And your church is here to encourage and partner with you!

So take a deep breath.

You don't have to read everything, attend everything, or fix everything today!

Choose one thing and focus on it. Ask God to help you with it. And then, when you're ready, take the next bite.

Because that's how you eat an elephant.

One bite at a time.

And that's often how we grow as parents, too.