The best gift I’ve ever gotten from my children was a yellow sticky note left for me on my kitchen counter. The note read, “We love you.”
I can guess what you might be thinking. “Hmmm…really? This is the best gift? Not the Christmas ornament with your firstborn’s handprint preserved in clay? Not the wall hanging with the names of every family member spelled out like a Scrabble game board?”
I did love those gifts, too. But this one was the best, because my children gave it to me on a day was I was so very unlovable as a mother.
I’d had one of my typical mom meltdowns. I’m sure there was yelling and door-slamming involved. I’m sure I freaked about something that was, in fact, nothing. I’m sure my daughters snuck off to their rooms to commiserate about “mom being mom”…and to write me this note, which they surreptitiously left for me to find.
All of which is just to say that I’ve had more than my share of bad days as a mom. I’ve had to learn how to reset my defaults…to reprogram my thinking. If you’re having a day that’s headed toward bad in a hurry, I've got a little list up over on my friend Ruthie's blog that might help bring it around to good...
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Ooooh, must write myself a sticky note with #6...because I really need that today! Sending hugs and love your way today, my friend!
ReplyDeleteOh, me, too, sweet friend!! It's along the lines of "God won't give you more than you can handle." Um, yes, He will! He's big into dependence on Him, and doesn't parenthood show us that?! Thanks SO much for taking time to read this, especially with the trip over to Ruthie's blog. You are a treasure. xoxo
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