Comments on: When You Have a Bad Day…

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:19:55 +0000

That was a great post. I appreciate that you really let us see and feel how your day progressed. It felt way too familiar.

Kudos to you for noticing that your kids were working to pull you out of a funk and not just goofing off. I fail to pick up on this sometimes.

True. True. – Chas

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[Thanks. I'll have to come back and read these words of encouragement the next time a stressful day comes our way.

-- bmgmom]

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:02:13 +0000

Hear hear! My kids always cheer me up when I’m down. My wife and I were upset about something one time, and Sarah (our oldest) came to me and said, ‘Daddy, don’t cry, you’re pretty!’ I couldn’t cry any more, I was laughing so hard.

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[Oh, that's absolutely precious. Nothing beats love...

--- bmgmom]

By: Dan Leone

Dan Leone — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:09:03 +0000

As I was reading your post, I was thinking to myself some sort of sarcastic, cynical (but oh so witty) comment. Then, I let it linger. I let your post slip into my head. Let me tell you that I am happy I did.

This is a beautiful and heart-warming post. I am grateful for the reminder.

Of course, none of this will matter the second I step foot in my house tonight and my 10 year old is having one of his daily temper tantrums and not getting his homework done. But, for a brief moment, it feels good to be reminded to stop and remember the good.

Thank you!

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[Thanks, Dan! I hear you about the homework protests. Thanks for another sweet comment!!

--- bmgmom]

By: trackmom

trackmom — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:58:51 +0000

….And here I thought I was the only mom that told her child can you give me a moment : )

Nice blog…

Track Mom

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[Thanks! I really think it's important to take a little time (even if it really is just a little) for ourselves.

--- bmgmom]

By: missivesfromsuburbia

missivesfromsuburbia — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:21:28 +0000

I’m so honored to be mentioned in such a beautiful post. Today is one of those days for me — I’m having a bad reaction to some vaccinations I got yesterday, and I feel like crap. But then my kiddo walked over to me, pulled up the back of my shirt and began laying kisses on my back. Well, okay, on my love handles. But it was just so darned sweet!

Thanks for reminding me how much attention those moments deserve, especially on days like this!!

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[Oh, isn't that just fantastic!? What a sweetie.

--- bmgmom]

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:34:41 +0000

What a great post. I can’t tell you how many times my three year old has driven me to the point of breaking only to turn around a second later and do something silly or sweet to make me forget what a bad mood I was in just moments before.

Thanks for the awesome reminder.

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[My pleasure, Kim. Thanks for that!

--- bmgmom]

By: pete

pete — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:28:27 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with this post. I can get in some moods that an elephant couldn’t move, but my daughters have me figured out. I usually bury myself in the computer during these times. Sure enough, my daughters will come over to me and start being goofy, trying every joke in the book to crack that hard outer shell. Because they know that there’s a mushy dad inside. And it usually works.

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[Isn't it great to have that (sort of like a loving reminder that it's all going to be okay)?

--- bmgmom]

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:50:51 +0000

What a beautifully written, heartwarming post! Enough to make me start my own day with a smile!

And yes, you’re so right, the warmth and joy your children can give you is priceless. One of my favorite moments is sitting together with the three of us on the large bed, each one tightly in one of my arms, reading one of their favorite books..
I also, always have a picture of them with me.. My colleagues know that when I’m wearing that sheepish, happy grin on my face, yep.. I’m looking at their picture!

But, you’re also very right in that you have to recognise those moments, cherish them, and conciously open your heart to them.. Thanks so much for reminding me again!

[Thanks for your sharing your thoughts and such kind words.

Oh, and I love story time, too. There's nothing like it...

--- bmgmom]

By: BusyDad

BusyDad — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:22:05 +0000

A very well-put, very necessary post. I’m very lucky in the sense that I was born patient, but there are moments when I get frazzled (like when we’re running late – being late stresses me out). At those times, I just make it a point to laugh at something – anything! It could be one hair sticking up on my son’s head (thanks for linking to Fury’s pic!), or a funny choice of words he just used while whining or dawdling. It doesn’t matter. As long as I laugh, I regain perspective. It’s like a reset button. Sometimes laughing gets me in trouble (like the little incident about Fury’s wisecrack when I dropped the lego in my “no respect” post – my wife scolded fury for being rude and she saw no comedy in it. I on the other hand doubled over with laughter, which made me feel like an irresponsible parent), but I’d rather err on the side of being too lax than feeling guilty later about lashing out at my kid because I was upset about something totally unrelated.

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[Well said, BD. I like your way of dealing with the time crunch -- find something to laugh at. I know sometimes that's a real challenge, but well worth the effort.

--- bmgmom]