Parenting by Prepared Spontaneity

I really appreciate this insight from Paul David Tripp on parenting:

“Parenting is all about living by the principle of prepared spontaneity. You don’t really know what’s going to happen next. You don’t really know when you’ll have to enforce a command, intervene in an argument, confront a wrong, hold out for a better way, remind someone of a truth, call for forgiveness, lead someone to confession, point to Jesus, restore peace, hold someone accountable, explain a wisdom principle, give a hug of love, laugh in the face of adversity, help someone complete a task, mediate an argument, stop with someone and pray, assist someone to see his heart, or talk once again about what it means to live together in a community of love.”

I believe part of the reason we get so tired at parenting and want to escape is because we prefer to believe the untruth that parenting can be done predictably, conveniently, and with ease.