One of those Days

This morning I woke up like any other morning. The first person I saw was my wonderful husband, who put a smile on my face immediately. I went in to switch the laundry, take my thyroid medicine, wake up my children one at a time for family scripture reading and prayer. Just like any other morning. But everything went spiraling downhill from there: A sick boy whose spent the majority of the morning with his head in the toilet to throw up, 2 other kids complaining that there isn't anything to eat (there is, of course, just nothing they WANT to eat), running to the store to put a smile on their faces instead of my daily exercise routine, only to have them sorry that I didn't buy exactly what they wanted-thus triggering a battle of words between them about how they should be more appreciative of Mom's efforst. *Mental note- never do that "favor" again*, hearing put downs and critisisms toward each other, trying to sneak out with what they know are not proper school attire, meanwhile two children asking for their breakfast--in segments, thus my exercise made up for by running to the refrigerator 50 different times (no exaggeration),  and the bad part about it is....it isn't over. Not only that, but they have the day off tomorrow for a furlough day for the teachers. Poor underpaid teachers. That I'm sending my bad mood children off to.

It's amazing how these really cute, darling people can suck the life out of you leaving you unmotivated and thouroughly exhausted. I wonder what it would be like to just lay on the couch and do nothing but watch cable t.v. all day. And I don't mean nothing like just folding laundry while watching, but just laying around watching. You know, like I used to do as a kid. Like my kids do. Hey, I'm beginning to realize something. Aren't you? Are you seeing what I'm seeing? It's important to feel useful and recognize the effect we have on people. To know the influence we have on those around us. Because as I said to my 2 year old today after she literally growled at her older brother while he was giving her a good morning welcome, we need to make every moment count and treat others better than we would want to be treated because we need to make the most of the time we have together never knowing how long or short that time will be. So yes, it's been difficult, and it's hard to keep the focus when things don't go your way, but I just want to say that amid the turmoil and the chaos I'm realizing how important it is to make sure others don't suffer from our choices. Go into a different room, go back to bed, leave the house for a walk, do what it takes to calm down. Overall, don't be a part of their having One of those Days.