I don’t live my life with regrets, but there are times I can look back and recognize if I had all the information then that I do now, I would have felt or acted differently. For example, I remember when the Internet was in its infancy and hearing about the “information highway.” I thought, whatever would someone do with that?! Hmmm. I feel differently now — to have information at my fingertips without leaving my home is invaluable.

This looking back applies to parenting situations too — if I knew then what I know now, some situations could have gone smoother. So for grins, I’ve compiled a brief list of what I wish I would have known 13 years ago. See if you can relate …

1. That modeling a clean bedroom would help teach my daughter the importance of cleaning her own bedroom.
2. That counting to 10 has its benefits for me too.
3. That understanding learning styles brings clarity to many situations.
4. That being a catering service to my child wouldn’t be the best choice.
5. That I learn more by listening, than talking.
6. That I would fail at times in my parenting skills, but my daughter is forgiving when I make it right.
7. That being human, not perfect is what matters most.

Knowledge is powerful. May we use the knowledge we gain, not to live in regret but to propel us forward to change the future!

Recently our family escaped out of town for the weekend to let loose at a water park. What a blast! We had not a care in the world, except to decide which ride to do next. We flipped on tubes, careened down slides, sloshed through tunnels, and trudged up hills carrying large tubes just to go down and do it all again. With how much fun the water park provided, there was something even better that stuck with me — our long conversations we had over the weekend. Priceless! We came back from that weekend with new plans to take more frequent mini-weekend trips as a family.

Typically society’s pace doesn’t afford us large amounts of leisure time to catch up with our family, or hear our children’s passions and interests. Instead, we flip over pages of to-do lists, careen down our daily schedules, slosh through life’s demands, and trudge up hills carrying our over-commitment only to wake up the next day and do it all over again. We don’t plan to spend our time that way, but life crowds in and before we know it, pressures dictate our schedules.

As I was reflecting on our weekend yesterday, I ran across a New York Times articles, Breakfast Can Wait. The Day’s First Stop is Online. It addressed the changing times of text messages, cell phones, social networking and email and how such lures interfere with family time and communication.

I couldn’t get the article out of my mind. Maybe it bothered me so much because our treasured weekend was fresh on mind. Or perhaps it reminded me of how I can be pulled away from my own family to check or write a few emails. Whichever the case, I’ve found myself re-reading the article and reflecting on what lures me away from my top priorities.

There is no doubt — family weekend escapes are invaluable. But more importantly, how do we spend our time during the week? It’s in our daily routine that our priorities are tested. So are we ready to let loose? It may not be at a water park, but let’s decide what can wait and what is first. Then have some great family time!

Recently our daughter went to camp with her youth group. After I dropped her off, I came home to a quiet house — no giggly, dancing, random teen went barreling down the hallway. Even our dog just lay by my feet and moped around. Apart from her bedroom still being a mess, it was a different feeling with part of our family missing for a few days.

I had grand plans to accomplish much in her absence, but many of the items on the list I didn’t get to. The most important one though, I did — spending quality time with my husband. We went out to dinner, watched a few previously recorded TV shows, relaxed in the pool without diving for pennies or being flipped over, kicked back in the hammock, talked, and just caught up with one another. It was a reminder to us of how quickly life crowds in and how little time we have for just the two of us.

When children are still living at home, the marriage relationship isn’t typically the default priority. The slumping economy doesn’t lend itself to planning frequent dates out of the house with our spouse. Today’s culture doesn’t foster a keep-the-marriage-together goal.

It takes intentional effort for each of us to nurture our marriage relationship. However, when we do, the rewards are priceless. The benefits extend far beyond our own personal connections — it trickles down to create stability for our children too.

So take time this week to plan a date with your spouse. It doesn’t have to cost anything. It just requires a concerted effort.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.  ~Martin Luther