Attitude Adjustment

This might come as a surprise to some of you readers but I don’t always have the most positive attitude where my kids are concerned. It’s not that I’m negative per se, but I don’t always stop and smell the roses. And I will without a doubt be crying about that in years, or blogs, to come.

Lately, however, I have been trying to slow down and, dare I say, ENJOY some things that I would otherwise loathe. For instance, bedtime. Bedtime is often a battle that occurs on the verge of the promised land – adult relaxation. I find myself angry and anxious to get these little kiddos to bed. Recently I have been trying to enjoy putting them to bed and even have fun with it. The interesting thing I have learned is that bedtime actually becomes more enjoyable and fun when I go in with that attitude. Gasp!

Then of course I get ahead of myself and think the same principle will hold true the morning after. I put on my happy face and have a renewed sense of positivity, and hell breaks loose. Before long I am screaming, children are being punished and all lasting hope that a more calm existence is an attitude adjustment goes out the door. Sigh.

Life is hard. Wiping butts, feeding mouths, bathing backs, and teaching values is exhausting. Having such young children close in age just adds to the challenge of it all. Sometimes it feels like the only way for us all to coexist successfully is if we follow a strict regimen. And although this is all true, there are glimmers that shine through of how very special this stage in life is. I’d like to say that these glimmers are often, but that’s not always the case. Some days are filled with mostly muscle power. What I’m realizing though, is that I may be able to pull out some glimmer from an otherwise glimmer-less day if I channel my best attitude. Some moments, much like this morning, it may be near impossible. But other moments, like bedtime as the only adult present, might just render some special glimmer that I would normally not find.

I’m hopeful as my children get older that life will get a little less chaotic. But anyone who has older children would probably tell me that it’s just a different kind of chaos. And I don’t want to waste a moment of this adorable stage in life for each of my children because I’m too overwhelmed to take it all in. So I’m going to try my best to be on the hunt for these glimmers and give it all I got to adjust my attitude which might make these glimmers happen more often!