This past Tuesday I decided that I would stop yelling at my kids. And even though I officially took a pledge on Friday, I’d already been making some changes.
In order to do start my journey on the right foot, I knew I needed to make a change in my attitude. I had been seriously foul lately. I’d been feeling lonely, frustrated, and in a Mom Funk. I wasn’t feeling happy, so I wasn’t bringing a lot of happy into my house.
Something really cool happened right after I decided to take the challenge. The next morning I woke up tired, sick, and uber groggy. I was not excited about the day, but I made a decision…
I will find a way to be happy.
I will have a fantastic day with my kids.
I will not yell, I will laugh.
I will slow down and enjoy my children.
This will be a wonderful day.
After a few cups of coffee, I was awake and ready to start the day.
And what a day it was. We played. We connected. We laughed. It was beautiful.
And you know what? It’s been pretty beautiful since then. I’ve felt more alive, happier, and at peace than I have in a long time.
It’s been a few days since then and I’ve noticed some big changes around here. My kids are happier and seem more at ease. My husband is more playful and he hasn’t raised his voice. It’s been pretty miraculous.
And it all started with me. Me, making the decision to be happy.
It really makes me think about how, as a Mom, I am the barometer of the family. When I’m angry, frustrated, rushed and short tempered, my family feels it. When I find peace and am happy, my children are more playful, happy, and compliant. My husband is more relaxed and happy too.
Some days it’s hard to be happy though. Life can be so stressful, so tough. But, how I decide to tackle the day is up to me. I can choose to let life get the best of me, or I can choose to control what I can, let go of the rest, and make the choice to be happy.
I make the choice not only for me, but for my family.
Growing up, my grandmother had a sign in her house that said “If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy”. I guess I never knew just how true that was.
Isn’t it true that we must make the decision to be happy? It reminds me of Gretchen Rubin’s book, where she mentions the quote: “It is easy to be heavy, hard to be light.” It can be harder to be “light,” but it makes a huge difference in everyone’s lives. I’ve been feeling under the weather lately, and it is taking it’s toll on all of us. Your post is a good reminder.
Good for you and good luck. Anytime we slow down and reflect on making positive changes, things just seem to be a little easier to manage. Thanks for this, and we will be monitoring our yelling too. 😉
Renae
http://www.everystarisdifferent.blogspot.com/2014/01/rainbow-writing.html