The following post is
written by Steady Mom's monthly contributor, Angie.
It was one of those days.
We woke up to my husband's tires flat - all of them. We were out of milk. I was in charge of crafts that morning at my moms' group, but he needed our other vehicle for work. The kids were misbehaving and I was losing it, quickly.
It was only 8am and I was ready for a do-over.
A friend picked us up for MOPS, yet on the ride there and home I cringed at how loud and whiny my kids were being. My frustration was at a breaking point.
Finally back at home, and just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I looked over to see the entire box of cereal on the floor--and my 18-month-old jumping in it.
My thoughts were not pleasant--I wanted to scream, run away, or lock myself in the bathroom until bedtime. It was a day I am not proud of.
And then, out of nowhere I looked over at my five-year-old sitting quietly at the table writing something. He was working hard and it stopped me in my rampaging tracks.
Timidly he looked up and I suddenly felt as if I'd been punched in the stomach. I could see by his face he wasn't frightened or curious as to why mommy was "losing it."
He held out his hand and said, "Here mama, I made you this." On that little orange piece of paper was his name.
I fell to my knees in tears, yes, crunching the spilled cereal all the while. He smiled and hugged me as crunch, crunch, crunch, the baby toddled over.
While I was angry and annoyed at the circumstances of the day, he was simply trying to make me happy.
He had no clue the lesson he taught me that day.
That little orange piece of paper now sits on my desk and is a constant reminder to slow down and let go.
Cereal will get spilled, and milk will run out.
But my babies will only be small for a little while. I want to make the best of even the most unfortunate days.
I know you do, too.
**How do you make the best of the not-so-great days?**
Angie is married to a baseball loving man, and is a
mama to two little boys. She is the editor and founder of The Creative Mama, as well as a child photographer in the beautiful Bay Area, CA.
