I've often heard the analogy of the duck on the water applied to some mums. You know, all calm and graceful above the water whilst below little webbed feet paddle furiously [graceful despite the unseen chaos]. . . I haven't heard it applied to me! I'm more like a goose that is madly flapping its wings above, feet wildly paddling to no where below, and honking like the world is hard of hearing. Yes, when things aren't working out, I make no secret of it. I don't label myself as a whinger (ahem) but I can't keep a facade | I totally suck at poker.
I have been pondering this the last couple of days . . . perhaps I need a litte more gratitude in my thinking? I was challenged with task this morning.
I took the kids to the local library thinking it was high time we joined up and to see what programs they run. Perfect day to go because they were having their children's reading and craft this morning. But my kids were feral. Dean screamed the entire shopping centre down just prior - yes one of those almighty howls about nothing and people looking at me with either horror or sympathy | both I find abhorrent at such times. Just look away people and ignore the meltdown! Yes, so clever me took the boys to the library *clever really means dopey in this case* . . . you can guess what happened next.
The ladies who run our library are L.O.V.E.L.Y. Thanks to their patience, kindness and understanding, we were all signed up in minutes, free books given to the boys [yes, free TO KEEP!], and booked in for the children's reading and craft time (that only cost $1.20 each - craft time that I don't have to clean up after is worth 10 times that!). And you know what? The boys were calm and loved every single moment of it. They even helped clean up and were the last to go.
Therefore, I can tell you that I am grateful for our local library!
Another thing I am challenged in being grateful for is being a renter. I won't start on my list of gripes but I will tell you that I have found that I can be grateful for the garden here.
I can even be grateful for the bedrooms despite them looking like Dr Seuss vomitted on the walls.
Do you have a clever trick for the public toddler meltdown? Oh please share, I might be able to use it with success!!
