On second thought....

Saying yes is hard. Usually much harder than the quick NO that I frequently say to my kids. It’s easy to just say no to any request they make and keep moving with my day.

Lately I’m trying to stop and think for a moment before I give an automatic NO.

Tobin asks me to snuggle for a few more minutes at bedtime...my first thought: ‘I’m exhausted and really want to take a hot bath, put on my pajamas, and go to bed.’
Tobin asks me to play in the mud. First thought: ‘Oh gosh he’s going to get disgusting and track mud all over the house. I don’t need another mess to clean.’
Mary Hollis asks me to sit and play with her. First thought: ‘I have so much to do. I’ve got to cook dinner, vacuum, fold laundry, and unload the dishwasher before we run errands.’
Mary Hollis asks me to hold her...again. My first thought: ‘My back is sore, and it’s really hard for me to accomplish anything with only one arm.’
{I know I’m not the only one who thinks these things!}

But I then focus on my SECOND thoughts.
My kids need me.
My kids want to be with me.
My kids want to be close to me.
My kids want to be messy.
My kids want to play.
My kids want to just be kids.

And they’re only kids for so long. Sometimes, saying YES won’t hurt anyone. Sometimes, taking two seconds to think that second thought and change the no to a yes can completely make my child’s day. Sometimes, they just want and need a little bit of my time and attention.

Part of raising children is teaching them to love and respect others. A simple yes {when appropriate} can demonstrate my love and my respect for them and their childhood memories.

So for now, I’ll listen to that second thought.

Comments

Why NOT me? Struggle builds STRENGTH

My mom said something to me years ago that she didn’t even remember, but it stuck with me. When I was in 3rd grade, I had to get stitches in the side of my head, and I asked her on the way to the doctor, ‘Why me? Why did this happen to ME?’….to which she responded, ‘Why NOT you? Why any other kid?’ I remind myself of that conversation often when I’m going through a struggle {no matter how big or small} and wondering, WHY me or WHY my child or WHY my family? Well, why on earth not?….nobody is exempt from mental and physical struggles throughout our lives. The GOOD thing is that even though sometimes it may seem like we’re on an island, we are NEVER alone. There is always SOMEBODY who can relate, sympathize, empathize, or provide guidance and advice. In going through our own struggles, we become stronger and then can be that support system to somebody else in need. Life most definitely takes a village. Today, choose to LIFT someone else up. Help someone in your life find their stren...

September 25th

A day that I’ll never forget. A day that started like any other day. A day that taught me so much more than I anticipated. A day that could have been so much worse. Happy 1st birthday, Coco. From the focus on pain...to the focus on movement...to the focus on scarring... I’m proud of this journey. I’m proud of my healing. I now know... Coconut oil is very flammable. Fire destroys faster than I realized Water doesn’t put out grease fires. Adrenaline gives you superpowers. Regional One is an amazing facility that our city to blessed to have. I am capable of so much more than I knew. Healing truly comes from within. What a year it’s been. What a learning experience it’s been.

Peace.

Although my blogging has been lacking, I promise that I've been doing lots of reading and journaling...I've just gone old school. Like, with a pen and paper. What!? But wanted to record a few thoughts here. As people do in the new year, I made some resolutions for 2019. I saw a few friends mentioning in early January that they choose a specific word to be 'their word' for the year. So, I thought, why the heck not? For 2019, I chose peace. Something I desperately need. In motherhood, in marriage, in relationships, within myself. I didn't give a TON of thought to it at the time...but as January draws to a close, I find myself diving deeper into this word and exploring how to truly find (and KEEP!) it in my life. I joined a Bible study group in August, and I have been trying to really focus on our assignments each week. Studying scripture is completely out of my element and comfort zone, but the more time I devote to it, the more I love it and crave it. Much like phy...

The Abnormally Normal Introverted Extrovert

Search This Blog