Are you having one of those days today? You know, the kind of day when everyone, and I mean everyone, around you is having a meltdown?
There are days when it seems like the drama will never end. From one child to the next to the next, each of them is not just unhappy about something, but it is the end of the world for them. On those days it seems to start in the morning when my oldest just can't bear one more day of getting out of bed to go to school. Not. One. More. Day.
It continues when the next two have to get up and get ready for school, vying for rights to the bathroom sink and racing to be the first to get dressed, get packed, eat breakfast, and so on. The victory is sweet for the winner of the race--but the agony of defeat lingers over the loser for the rest of the morning, making life downright miserable for the rest of us.
Why can't they just get ready like they're supposed to? After all, they have been doing this every weekday since they were 3 years old. It is just not meant to be. Unless it's Saturday and they have absolutely nowhere to go. Then they are up at 6 am, ready for their day and downstairs watching tv or playing xbox. Go figure.
When I finally get everyone off to school and the house is temporarily quiet, I realize something. Everyone's had their turn to have a meltdown today. Everyone, that is, but me.
I recently reflected on this truth after being told, somewhat incredulously, by a concerned individual after a particularly rough day, "I don't know how you do it. This is just too much for anyone to handle."
And I realized that, while I could take my turn at a meltdown and have a full-blown, falling-apart, lose-my-mind-for-a-moment kind of meltdown, what would it really do for me?
After falling apart, I'd have to put myself back together and then carry on with my day so I could do all the things I need to do because there's no one else to do them, just like I do every other day. Except for one thing.
Now I'd be behind.
And I'd have less time to do all these necessary things that I do each day that make our family run "smoothly." Less time to do the same amount of tasks. That, to me, equals stress.
So I pass on the opportunity to have my meltdown and instead, I spend some quiet time with my Father so that I can have His strength and peace as I go about my day. And when I pick up my children from school and the adventure begins again, I am so very grateful that I chose quiet moments rather than meltdowns. Because I've sure had enough of those.
How about you? How are you doing today? How is your stress level as you read this post? Is there peace within your spirit or are you feeling like you're going to explode? And I wonder, what's one thing you can do to reduce your stress level and enjoy the rest of your day just a little more?
Please share your ideas with us. It's good to know we're not alone and that there are others our there who struggle with the same things we do. And then, take a few moments for yourself to refresh and refocus before the adventures begin again.