Attitude Check.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
The last few days have been hard for me. I have been impatient, rude, harsh towards the kids and Max. I have overreacted, yelled, "blown my top" if you will, more than I want to admit.
I want to blame it on the weather - the gray days and rain that's kept us inside the house, as opposed to playing out in the fresh air. I want to blame it on the lack of a car - since Max usually takes it to work, which means we are "stuck" at home. I want to blame it on my hormones or my emotions or my lack of sleep.
But that's not fair or right. It's me. The only person responsible and held accountable to how I've been acting and treating my family is myself. It doesn't matter the weather or the circumstances or my feelings - I can still control my attitude, set my tone, choose my words and reactions. I can still choose joy and patience and kindness.
What an attitude check!
I have been thinking a lot about how as a mama, I have great influence over the "tone" of our home. How my attitude affects the attitudes of those around me, and therefore, affects the attitude of our home. I have the ability, the privilege, of "setting the tone". And what have I been doing the last few days? Setting a negative, harsh tone, instead of creating the safe, comforting, loving space that I desire to have.
I know I'll have hard days - that's inevitable - but it's my choice as to how I will deal with them, and how I will deal with my responses to the people around me on the hard days and the easy days.
I want my kids and husband to know I am for them, that I love them, that they are my people. And in order to do that, I need to learn to seek and choose joy, to find my strength in Jesus, to lean on His grace upon grace upon grace, even in the tough moments that feel too hard for this mama.
I can choose my attitude.
I can choose joy.
I can set a different tone.
9 comments
Oh lady. Those days are rough. But you're so right.
ReplyDeleteYesterday and Today we got out of the house for a short walk and some park time. I feel better and so does Em. Some days are rough but you are a great mama!
ReplyDeleteAre you in my head? This is what I needed to hear, friend. xo
ReplyDeleteI've had to do a few of these attitude checks lately! I get it.
ReplyDeleteWorking on this too! You are definitely NOT alone, girl!
ReplyDeleteI recently just found out that I am going to be a mama myself soon! (Shhh!) :) And I wanted to tell you that I love reading your blog posts like this because it puts me in perspective - and I love how you talk about setting a "tone" for the house. We all have bad days! :)
ReplyDeleteI have needed a few attitude checks over here this week too. Thanks for reminding me that I can set the tone in our house. Even though Micah is still little, I felt like he can sense my impatience and frustrations too. I need to remember that and try to laugh, play, and smile more in the midst of it all - which usually helps to spur me on to being more joyful. I will be praying for you!
ReplyDeleteThis post really speaks to me as I am right there with you. . .it's all about the tone! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this. And I love you for this. I don't think there is a mother who doesn't struggle daily-hourly- with these things, but recognizing it is so important. Sometimes, I step back from myself and think, "Wow. Would *I* like to be spoken to that way?" It's really convicting. Working on this right along with you!
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