Is it really in good faith if you sign your kids up for a youth mission trip but in the process of preparing you resort to using the F-bomb, several threats and a restriction just for them to get packed?   This was not like their younger years when I would take them to McDonalds really early for breakfast, let them play in the ball pit, slide down the tubes and race around, then as we walked out the door to leave, I make the surprise announcement that they are heading straight to Vacation Bible School. No, this week long mission trip was planned in advance. I even asked if they wanted to go BEFORE I signed them up.  Of course I balanced it with either the week long mission trip helping the migrant families or volunteer at Seattle Childrens Hosptial one day a week for a year in which they “chose” option A. I don’t offer these volunteer opportunities as a punishment.  They are meant to balance them, create gratitude, build community, give back and be an example of our faith.  So I would argue that I am coming at this from a very good place that just goes badly the closer we are to departure.  

I admit, I am the one that lacks the appropriate example when the night before we are husseling around in different directions accomplishing nothing but hightened tension.   I will say, however, in my defense, that they are teenagers and I would think by now they would have enough experience with me to read my facial expression and act accordingly.  If they don’t get it by the piercing eye stare, flared nostrils and gritted teeth,  I would expect they could match my vocal tone with an action that would alleviate not elavate the intensity.  If they only realized that all I am asking is for them to put down all forms of social media and/or any remote control and follow the packing list in a timely manner.  Midnight is never going to be my target deadline to be ready for any event.  

I can happily announce that as of 8:48am this morning, they have been safely dropped off for the week and my mission is accomplished.