When my husband came home from work the other day, I met him at the door and said, “This is “the day.” I knew it was coming sometime, and now it’s here. This is the day that I am officially done with summer!”
If you’re a mom, you’ve probably had your own version of “the day.” Your kids bounce around like pin balls from Play Doh to fighting to chores to outside to crafts to books to TV to games to puzzles to snacks to dress up, and when you finally get a second to look up at the clock, you’re crushed to discover that it’s only 10 a.m.
They whine because they’re bored. They whine because it’s too hot outside. They whine because you fixed the wrong thing for breakfast. Or they whine because you have the audacity to insist they pick up the Legos they just threw down the stairs. You’re so fed up with all the whining, all you want to do is, well, whine.
And therein lies the irony.
If you’re struggling to make it through the last few days of summer, it may help to remember these three tips to cure mommy whining:
1. Thanksgiving
You cannot praise God and whine at the same time, so find the blessings of the day (there are more than you think) and spend your thoughts on the good things instead of the difficult things. Thank you that my children are healthy. Thank you that they have a home to enjoy and toys to play with. Thank you that I am alive and able to enjoy it with them. Thank you for their energy, their creativity and for the way they love me.
2. Truth
Your children, even on their worst days, are still big. fat. blessings! The truth is that they are the greatest in the Lord’s kingdom. God created them with a unique purpose, and He chose you to be their mommy. You! And you need them as much as they need you. God has a purpose for each day you spend with them, even summer days when you stay in your pajamas all day and have snow cones for lunch.
3. Time
Time has the divine ability to put all problems into perspective. You know how something appears smaller as you get further away from it? The same will be true of the end of summer with your kids. About ten minutes after they go back to school, you’ll wonder what they’re doing. By the afternoon, you’ll be looking forward to seeing them again. And by November, you’ll be counting the days for them to have a whole week off for Thanksgiving.
It’s tempting to cross the summer finish line whining. But it’s best to finish strong.
Now, if someone could just remind me of this tomorrow.
I kind’a sat & snickered through the whole message…….BECAUSE…..I’m at the ranch with 5 of my lil grand daughters, 10, 8, 6, & 2. 3 year olds….
Nuff said!!! but ask me in private & ill tell you a little secret I/we, (Papa & I have), that allowed me to take my 10, 8, 7, 6, & 5 year olds to Schlitterbahn, in Galveston, by myself…….while Papa stayed at the house with 3 of the 3 year olds…….precious memories….how I love them. The most challenging thing in the world next to being married & you’re so very right when you say…..consider it alllll blessings.
P.S. I still like Jason’s version of “””whining”””. I shared it with Randy.
;-0). “”””Think peaceful””””.