When I wasn't feeling like this:
I don't know why really. Just one of those days where I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and couldn't right myself now matter how hard I tried. I was stressed out, irritated, sad, and well... just plain grumpy.
I tried for a little perspective, tried to get out of my own head for a little while. God knows there are people dealing with real problems and heartaches. The devastation in Haiti right now is horrific.
To that end, I donated my $10 to the Red Cross's relief efforts. (If you haven't done this yet, please do! Just text HAITI to 90999, and your $10 will be charged on your next cell phone bill. It's only $10 and it takes 2 seconds.)
I tried to share about it on Twitter, but accidentally typed the number incorrectly - still haven't gotten used to that touch screen keyboard - and I was of course corrected by several well-meaning people. With the state I was in, even that made me feel worse.
We walked to the playground this afternoon, but the warm Arizona sun wasn't cheering me up today. The kids ran and played for over two hours, and I enjoyed it through them, yet that small part of me still wanted to just go home to crawl back into bed.
In a crazy way, I feel like days like today help me to be a better parent. It's a not-so-gentle reminder that we all have those days. Those days when we're frustrated with the world, and ourselves, and life, and we inadvertently take it out on everyone around us. How much harder it must be to do with those feelings when you're a child! Days like today reaffirm my resolve for patience when Tegan is grumbling around, saying "No" to every question that's asked of her, and throwing herself on the floor. Days like today remind to be kind when Everett has burst into tears for the 3rd time, for reasons that even he doesn't quite understand. Days like today make me more understanding when Paxton wants to retreat into his computer game, without any disruptions from his younger siblings, or when Spencer needs nothing more than a nap at 2:30 in the afternoon.
For that awareness, I'm thankful for even the bad days.
"You never see the bad days in a photo album but it’s those days that get us from one happy snapshot to the next"
1 comment:
Jen,
I agree that it is those days that remind us that even our children are only human. Kimmy and Kelly have had some very out of sorts days, where they just need to chill out for the evenings. On those days, I channel my inner grumpy self and just let them have a break from life.
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