You know how it goes. You're running behind and for some reason, your children don't seem to understand (or care) what this means. They are goofing off and are still in their pajamas, even though you leave in 10 minutes. You hear your toddler say, "Uh oh" and walk into the living room to discover she has grabbed her brother's cup of milk and (of course) spilled it all over the carpet. To add to the craziness, it's raining. Do I even need to elaborate on that last one? Kids like to jump in puddles, getting their feet and clothes wet and muddy in the process. The garage is a huge mess and your vehicles won't fit in there, so you and your kids are hurrying out to the vehicle in the rain. By the time you reach the vehicle you can't find your keys to unlock it. "Hurry, mom!" By the time you finally find them, press the button, and your eldest opens the van door everyone is soaked. You get to school and manage to stop the vehicle right on a water puddle. When your son opens the van door both back packs fall out and land right in the puddle with a big splash. The toddler is screaming, snot growing from her nose and oozing in all directions as you try to hurry your two sons into the school building because it's raining.
We have all had those days where, no matter what we do, nothing seems to go right. Today, I am tired. I am stuffed up, everywhere I turn in this house there is a mess--I don't even know where to begin. Therapies, school, homework, birthday party planning, doctor's appointments, Logan's surgery preparations, bills, cleaning, laundry--the list goes on and on. Today I am feeling overwhelmed. I feel guilty for not spending more time with my children. I feel guilty because I can't seem to stay on top of things and keep the house clean.
I am always telling my boys that, most days, your attitude can determine what kind of day you have. Most days I have a pretty good attitude but there are days when you wish you had a reset button. So, for today, here is what I'm going to do. I'm going to look at all these little stress factors and turn them into something good. How? Here's how:
1. I'm thankful for the bills because they remind me that my husband has a good job that pays for these bills. The bills indicate things we have (and should be thankful for) that some people don't have--electricity, air conditioning and heating, a roof over our head, clean water, the list goes on and on.
2.I'm thankful for that pile of laundry because it reminds me that my family has nice clothes to wear. Again, there are some people who don't.
3. I'm thankful for that puddle that caught my boys' back packs this morning. It means it's raining and rain is always good!
4. "Don't cry over spilled milk." Okay. Let's be thankful for it then. Yes, it was a mess I had to clean up, but my children HAVE milk to drink. And when Kaitlyn spilled it, I just went to the fridge and poured some more into the cup as if it was no big deal. It's sad what we take for granted.
5. I'm thankful for the stressful mornings of trying to get my gremlins ready for school and out the door on time. It's FAR better than not having them to add this craziness to my life. ;) Jacob and I wanted children . . . and children we have.
I have been talking to my boys about being thankful for what we have and each and every day we discover something new that we take for granted.
What are you thankful for?
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