Sometimes it is easy to see all the negative around you, that’s one of the reasons I started doing a weekly Thankful Thursday post.
Toys cover the living room floor, tumble off shelves, and seem to multiply overnight. It can drive me crazy. But, even as the chaos makes me nutty, I am thankful that my children have so many people who love them and give them gifts on birthdays and holidays.
Out. Of. Control. That sums up the past 2 nights getting kids down for bed. And I don’t just mean the kids. I could spend hours going over all the things I did wrong. But mistakes are made for us to learn from, and thankfully tonight went much smoother.
And then there’s the big one for the week, which probably contributed to the craziness of bedtime from the past 2 nights.
This week the husband is on night shift.
I hate night shift. I hate having to keep the kids quiet so Daddy can sleep. I hate having to sleep in our king-sized bed alone. I hate that when he does wake up, and the kids are all excited to see him, that he often has just enough time to eat dinner with us before he winds up having to leave for work yet again. I hate not getting to really talk with him. I hate the sad looks on the kids’ faces as they watch him get in his truck. I hate the stress we all feel by the end of the week.
But, I can choose to look at it another way.

I am thankful that he has a job that allows me to stay home with the kids. I am thankful that he isn’t away for weeks on end, that he DOES get to come home at the end of his shift. And, while he is on night shift, he often leaves little treats for the kids to find in the morning — donuts or a lollipop; I am thankful that he finds little ways to let us know he misses us, too.
Take a moment to look past the negatives this week and look for the positives. Leave a comment telling us what you’re thankful for this week.
Or, link up your own thankful post!
Shared on Lovely Little Whimsy, The Fontenot Four, Six by the Bay
Alison says
Great way to look at things.
Ginny Marie says
Oh, I really need to look at the positives too! That would be so hard to keep the kids quiet if my husband had to sleep during the day. It will be easier when your daughter goes to Kindergarten. 😉
OneMommy says
I usually try to take them outside a lot if the weather permits or we spend a night or two at my parents’ since they’re just an hour away. This week we stayed home.
I was wondering about that for next year, but I am thinking it is her brother that is the noisiest of the 2! 🙂
Chris Carter says
I always love your Thankful Thursday posts!! What a wonderful way to ALWAYS try to look at our lives… I am constantly reminded of Phil 4:8. Focus on all that is worthy of praise. That is what you do Christina!!! (Oh how I love saying your name!!!!)
OneMommy says
Oh, I love that: “focus on all that is worthy of praise.” Beautiful!
Kristen says
I’m thankful for the understanding I received this week from having to cancel a few things yesterday and today because of awful colds that my girls and I have picked up. I never like to cancel when I sign up to help with different things. I’m glad people know that about me and picked up the slack for me.
OneMommy says
I am so sorry to hear you were all sick! I hope you are all starting to feel better! 🙂
OneMommy says
Having that individual time with your son is definitely a positive way to look at it! 🙂
Angela says
I love this idea of Thankful Thursday. Too bad I’m a week too late to link up. It all does get overwhelming at times but I always try to remember all the stress will subside one day and then I’ll miss my babies as babies. For tomorrow I’m going to be thankful for a day off work to spend it with my girls!
OneMommy says
Nothing lasts forever, you’re right!
Hope you get a chance to stop in for this week’s Thankful Thursday! 🙂