Well, as is typical of me I am late jumping on a bandwagon. I have decided to join in a 31 day challenge over at The Nester. I've always enjoyed reading blogs, especially 31 day challenges. Pop over there and check out some of the fine offerings.
For my challenge I will be focusing on a more peaceful home.
Notice I did not say a peaceful home - with four children and the kind of life we leave peace is not something we hear a lot. I'm okay with that.
What I'm not okay with is the yelling, crying, fussing, complaining, bickering, eye-rolling, foot-stomping foolishness that's been going on here lately. I know that some of is just that we stepped out of the lazy days of summer straight into the start-up days of August and September.
I also know that I'm often the ringleader in the hoopla simply because I feel like a chicken with my head cut off. I chose my blog title, If Mama Ain't Happy, because that's been a favorite phrase of mine for years. It's been a favorite because it's true. I read, in one of the million mothering books I've read, that the mom is the emotional gauge of the house, and after 14 years of doing it I can say that it is absolutely true. When I'm frazzled my people are frazzled. When I'm angry my people are short-tempered. When I'm down-in-the-dumps my people can't get out of bed.
You get the picture.
The wonderful thing about all that mess is that the converse is also true; when I'm at peace my people are at peace (for the most part). So over the next 30ish days I will be focusing on a more peaceful home. I will be revealing some things about myself and our family that I'm not entirely proud of, but that I hope will encourage anyone who is struggling with similar issues. I don't think we do each other any favors by pretending that all is well all of the time.
Here's the outline:
31 Days to a More Peaceful Home
Week 1: A More Peaceful Me
Week 2: A More Peaceful Home
Week 3: A More Peaceful Budget
Week 4: A More Peaceful Family
I can't promise great pictures, although I'm going to really work at that, but I can promise authenticity. I'm not one for hiding things, except dirty laundry and dark chocolate, and I feel this could be therapeutic. I'll share everything I learn on my journey to becoming more peaceful.
Let's begin by throwing our hands up over our heads and yelling, "Serenity now!"
For my challenge I will be focusing on a more peaceful home.
Notice I did not say a peaceful home - with four children and the kind of life we leave peace is not something we hear a lot. I'm okay with that.
What I'm not okay with is the yelling, crying, fussing, complaining, bickering, eye-rolling, foot-stomping foolishness that's been going on here lately. I know that some of is just that we stepped out of the lazy days of summer straight into the start-up days of August and September.
I also know that I'm often the ringleader in the hoopla simply because I feel like a chicken with my head cut off. I chose my blog title, If Mama Ain't Happy, because that's been a favorite phrase of mine for years. It's been a favorite because it's true. I read, in one of the million mothering books I've read, that the mom is the emotional gauge of the house, and after 14 years of doing it I can say that it is absolutely true. When I'm frazzled my people are frazzled. When I'm angry my people are short-tempered. When I'm down-in-the-dumps my people can't get out of bed.
You get the picture.
The wonderful thing about all that mess is that the converse is also true; when I'm at peace my people are at peace (for the most part). So over the next 30ish days I will be focusing on a more peaceful home. I will be revealing some things about myself and our family that I'm not entirely proud of, but that I hope will encourage anyone who is struggling with similar issues. I don't think we do each other any favors by pretending that all is well all of the time.
Here's the outline:
31 Days to a More Peaceful Home
Week 1: A More Peaceful Me
Week 2: A More Peaceful Home
Week 3: A More Peaceful Budget
Week 4: A More Peaceful Family
I can't promise great pictures, although I'm going to really work at that, but I can promise authenticity. I'm not one for hiding things, except dirty laundry and dark chocolate, and I feel this could be therapeutic. I'll share everything I learn on my journey to becoming more peaceful.
Let's begin by throwing our hands up over our heads and yelling, "Serenity now!"
Sharing stories comes as naturally to me as breathing.I write here so I can do that. Grab a cup of something and stay a while.
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"Serenity now!", right after the kids clean the house, etc. I did look up serenity and found there is a serenity drug, but apparently not very good. Don't try it. Try this:
ReplyDeleteSerenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr