(This post was written by Gina McClain, Director of Children’s Ministries)

When I consider all the things that come with the fall season, the word that rolls through my mind is transitions.  Lots of them.

If your kids are in school, then they have new teachers, new classrooms, and possibly a new school.  Schedules transition.  Seasons transition.  It seems everything is in transition.

I’m a lover of words and I think ‘transition’ is one of my favorites.  Why?  Because it implies change.  And I love change.

But transitions can also be challenging.  The challenge comes because change is disruptive.

I’ve got my rhythm… my pattern for getting things done, and change does nothing but mess that up.  Kids starting school means I don’t have a quiet drive to the office in the morning. When my routine is disrupted, then I’ve got to figure out a new pattern.  Early morning phone calls don’t work when you’ve got a conversational 4 year old in the car. It forces me to think differently.  Rather than capitalizing on the time by knocking out phone calls, I capitalize on the one-on-one time with my son. I could certainly hang onto my old routine, knock out those phone calls, and put myself in the position to spend the 15 minute drive shushing my son so I can talk, or I could change my routine and create a new rhythm.  A rhythm focused on making the most of 15 minutes with a 4 year old that loves to talk about Spiderman.

The clear temptation is to cling to my old routine.  Why?  Because it’s easier.  But easier isn’t always better.  What’s better is figuring out how to change.  Or better said… transition.

For a great way to capitalize on time in the car with your kids, check out the ‘Car Time’ segment of your Small Talks (Preschool) &/or the discussion questions on you ‘Fridge Door’ (Elementary).