The silliness of today is the fond memory of tomorrow.

“The game!” shouts Alice from the back of the car.

“Oh Alice, not again, I’ve lost again!” replied Molly. “Have you seen that there is someone at school with ‘the game’ printed on the back of their sweatshirt, so we are always losing?”

“Did you know that ‘the game’ is only over when the Queen says so?” asks Alice, “and that Chuck Norris has won it, so it’s no good playing it anyway, cos Chuck Norris has already won!”

“Chuck Norris, he’s such a loser” Molly adds to the conversation.

“Mum, who is Chuck Norris?” Alice asks.

Well, needless to say that I couldn’t answer that question for three good reasons. Firstly I was trying to concentrate on my driving and as much as I like to always give good solid answers to my children’s questions this was an inopportune moment; secondly, I couldn’t speak for laughing at the sheer randomness of the conversation that was going on and thirdly, and most importantly, I had absolutely no idea who Chuck Norris was!

These precious moments of total unpredictability, hold onto them, delight in them. When you find yourself crying with laughter alongside your children at either something they have said or done, remember to store it in your memory bank. The silliness of today is the fond memory of tomorrow. The gifts of being human, equal, real and vulnerable with your children are greater than anything you can purchase.”

These moments are what hold you up on the days when parental tedium takes over and on those days when you wonder how you ever thought that you would make even a ‘reasonable’ parent. Connect with your inner randomness, join in the silliness of the conversation, revel in the joy of childhood and if you don’t know who Chuck Norris is then there is always GOOGLE!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (TNIV)