It's like giving yourself an evaulation, and then finding all the answers to your happiness.
What's a good day's work as a mommy mean to you?
What, when you lay your head down to sleep, what makes you feel that "this was a great day" feeling in your heart?
For me, I've found it's not dependent on whether or not we did something out of the ordinary. And it's not really dependent on whether everything went smoothly or not, or whether or not all the kid's were happy all day.
It's about the stuff that doesn't change...that shouldn't change. The constant, simple stuff.
Here are my answers:
1. I can say I didn't raise my voice once. I took the time to step back and react like a mature adult in charge of the situation. I educated and taught instead of getting angry.
2. I looked into the eyes of each child-I wasn't so busy that I just "managed" them, but I took time to connect with each of them.
3. I took the time to search out a little piece of goodness in each one and let them know it.
4. I went outside with them, in any kind of weather, for a walk, or to play.
5. We never turned the TV on.
6. I got down on my hands and knees and played, or read a book with the little ones.
7. I was "ready" for the older ones when they got home from school.
8. I fed us ALL healthy food and we ate together as a family.
9. I kept our house relatively cleaned and straightened, supplied with GOOD things to do...good books, creative toys.
10. I tucked freshly scrubbed, shampoo-smelling children into bed...and spent a little time reading or talking about their day before lights-out.
No, this all can't happen every single day, it DOESN'T happen every day, but it makes me feel so good when I can make several of them happen. It allows me to feel like "job well done"
It's easy to find excuses but none are really as important enought to interfere with me being the mother I have the intention of being.
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to come. We have only today. If we help our children to be what they should be today, they will have the necessary courage to face life with greater love.
Mother Theresa
