How about your child? Does he sometimes just seem to wake up on the wrong side of the bed? And you could promise him the one thing his heart truly desires and it still wouldn't make him happy?
Back when I was homeschooling my big girls, we would occasionally have days like this.
My solution was to push through the bad moods, the tears, the unhappiness.
And that was just my behavior!
Then I went to hear a very smart lady speak. And she said something that stuck with me.
On days when absolutely nothing seems to be going right, stop whatever you're doing and ask your child three simple questions:
- Do you need a snack?
- Do you need a shower?
- Do you need a nap?
These three seemingly simple questions can totally turn a kid's day around. They may not even realize that they're cranky because they just need a couple of Nilla Wafers and some milk.
But here's where the really genius part comes in.
These three seemingly simple questions can also turn my day around.
I'm no longer homeschooling any of my girls but I still have days when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, when I can't seem to get anything done no matter how hard I try, and I feel like everyone is out to get me.
Before I totally start to lose it, I ask myself those same three questions.
And I've discovered that nine times out of ten, I'm grumpy because it's 11 AM and not a bite of food has passed my lips. Or I'm mad because I'm still in my grubby yoga pants and one of Ryan's t-shirts at 2 PM. Or I'm simply exhausted.
It's amazing what a little cheese toast and some iced tea can do for your spirits. Or a nice, hot shower. Or a quick little cat nap.
Take a minute to ask yourself those three little questions. Then take a few minutes to take care of yourself.
You'll feel better.
And then your family will, too.
A "from the archives" post - December 2011
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