I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day by Judith Viorst
Not too long ago my nine year old daughter decided things were just too terrible around here for her to stay any longer. So she asked for her suitcase so she could move out.
I told her it was way up I the attic and anyway, if she was truly ready to live on her own she would figure a way to get it or use something else.
Five minutes later she was at the front door with her pink pillowcase packed with her stuffed lamb and hopefully a few pairs of underwear and toothbrush, but I doubt it.
She yelled at the top of her lungs she is leaving and never coming back.
I said okay. We will miss you and love you!
As she walked out, her brother quickly shut the door, locked it, and announced with a fist pump, “Yes! Finally!”
I called my husband and told him his middle child had moved out and I sure hope the streets aren’t too rough for her.
He responded with, “Well, that’s a shame. We will miss her.”
Fifteen minutes later, she decided living with us wasn’t as bad as living in the woods next to our house. So back in she came.
She was greeted with a hug and a welcome home and all was back to normal….well, as normal as this family can be.
In what seemed to be a high dramatic moment, it really didn’t need a huge dramatic response from me…so as hard as it was, I tried to move on and carry on with our day. I was determined to find the humor in it, because it really was hilarious watching her walk out with her pink satin pillowcase slung over her shoulder as if she was actually ready to take on the world.
And her brother was so hopeful it was a permanent solution.
Have you ever felt that way, though? Felt like packing up your pink satin pillowcase and getting the heck out of dodge because nothing was going right?
Like all the time right? Um yeah you are a human, a mom, and trying very hard to be a good at both.
But here is a chance to try to lean in, love yourself and those around you and keep a sense of humor, (or, remember God has one at least) and try the three R’s: Rest, Reconnect, and Reset.
- Let’s start with Rest
Rest doesn’t mean nap, but if you are able and if it is what you need, take one and enjoy it! But, rest can also mean take a walk, read a book, sit outside and look at the clouds, or sip iced tea while staring out the window. Take a break and do it again tomorrow and the next day. My mom always said it is okay to tell your kids you are tired and need to rest. Who better to show your kids how to rest than you? We were designed to need rest. Define rest for yourself and make sure you find the time to do so.
2. Now, let’s Reconnect
If we want to live daily with intent, then we need to assess whether we are living our daily lives in alignment with our values. If we feel like nothing is going as it should, sometimes it could be because we are not living true to ourselves. So this is where we can reconnect with our values and ask ourselves if our days are lined up with our values? For example, if reading is something important to you, are you making the time to pick up a book? If spending time outside is important to you, are you making the time to sit outside or work in your garden? What about exercise? Is that important to you and are you making the time for it? Think about what is important to you…the MOST important things to you and ask yourself if you are finding the time to do those things.
3. Reset time!
Okay, now it is time to align your days with your values. Here’s where we put our values, our important things, in our daily lives. As you plan your days, schedule time for the things that are important to you. If reading is one of your values, where will you put that on your calendar? If spending time outside is important, schedule time for that, too. One of the best tips I ever heard and now practice daily because it truly works, is putting a time down for the things I need and want to get done in my day. Try it! I promise it will work for you, too!
So, empty out your pink satin pillowcase because you are staying put! When those days hit, and they will sometimes, grab a glass of iced tea and take a seat and just rest, reconnect, and reset. Consider it a good thing…we all need times to assess what is working and what is not.
