Holly and I spent last Friday and Saturday at the Magnolia Market “Silobration” in Waco, TX (aka Chip & Joanna Gaines, aka HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”). It had been a hectic few weeks for Holly at her school and this was a much needed getaway for both of us. We got there Friday night about 8pm. Too late to hear Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, but just in time to hear Chip and Joanna talking about their “retirement” from their highly watched series after five seasons. To quote them from Joanna’s blog (https://magnoliamarket.com/our-last-season/):
“This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment. Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
What I heard loud and clear from Chip that night was “We need to raise our babies.”
I love that.
If you have watched any episode of “Fixer Upper” you have witnessed their commitment to family. I think that’s why the show has been so popular. They seem to be very “intentional” with their kids. Even to the point of having no TV in the house (they would visit friends with a TV to watch new episodes of the show). They have been great models of intentional parenting (what little we get to see) to America and I love that too. This “retirement” from TV is just another intentional move.
Life is hectic enough for you and I. Add lights, cameras, a thriving business, whirlwind book tours and people clamoring for your attention and it’s a recipe for disaster for the average family. Anyone remember “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”? Sad story. Very sad story because I remember “all the feels” while watching that show too.
All of this is to say, I hope you’ll be encouraged by this Texas family. I promise they would tell you that when the cameras aren’t around, there are fights and disagreements and hurt feelings and their kids will grow up and make poor choices, just like mine and yours, but they are being intentional. And it will make a difference in the lives of their kids long after “Fixer Upper” is a faint memory.
What bold move do you need to make to be more intentional with your kids? If you’re like me, it won’t involve retiring from a TV show, but it might mean a change in jobs so that you’re home more. Or making a commitment to eating dinner together several nights a week. Or it might be as simple as turning off “Fixer Upper” and getting up off the couch because someone is saying “Daddy swing me.”
You can do this.