Stop the Insanity!

Some days it just seems to start out pretty rocky and then go downhill from there, doesn’t it?  Emotions and energy between parents and kids aren’t really synchronized – for instance,  my kids are high energy today and very playful, I am exhausted and cranky.  It seems like every few minutes one or the other of them is coming up to me crying about something his brother did to him.  Now, I’m generally a pretty fair referee – as long as they’ve been playing rough I don’t really dole out too much sympathy for minor injuries.  I mean, of course they’re going to get a bump or bruise when they’re having sword fights, right?  But at the end of the day, I will have a pang of regret – did I spend quality time with them today, or was I just trying to keep them out of my hair?  Did I let them know that I love them?  Were my words and actions edifying to them, or was I short and snippy?  Unfortunately I would say the latter today – I spent more of my time fussing at them than loving on them, and most of my actions were in response to an incident, rather than in prevention of one.  I could really be down on myself today – I mean, chores didn’t really get done, the fish I was going to make for dinner didn’t thaw in time, I should have done the vacuuming but I didn’t, etc.  I think it is good for parents to get to take the day off, and it is important for kids to learn a little self-reliance, it is good for them to figure out a way to keep themselves entertained.  Even though I may feel a bit of regret and write today off as being a wasted day – I can comfort myself with the fact that even though I may have been on a shorter temper than I normally am they still came to me for every little problem, and they were still apologetic when they disappointed me.  To me, that shows that they know that I love them no matter how irritated I may be; that they believe that I will provide what they need even when I don’t necessarily want to; and that they know that I have pride in what I know they are capable of doing.  All-in-all it is a fairly comforting thought at the end of a very uncomfortable day. 

Here’s wishing you all a great day tomorrow – and some words of comfort if it isn’t all that great.  I’m off to enjoy pizza and a movie with my very cranky family.  Strangely enough, I’m looking forward to it.