Confession

I have a confession to make.

Sometimes my kids drive me nuts.

There are days when I'd like to send them to work with McHubby!  Days when I'd like to hide in the bathroom.  Days I'd like to pull my hair out.  (But the pretty, new hair color I'm sporting prevents me from doing so!)  There are days when I feel like I might be raising zoo animals!



Today was one of  those days.

After breaking up fights, mopping a flooded bathroom floor (bath time=FIASCO), and cleaning toothpaste out of the carpet, I had had enough!  "Alright, alright," I hollered, "that's it!  Get your shoes on, now.  We are getting out of the house!"

I grabbed my keys and ushered us out the front door.  Harmon's--our "friendly neighborhood grocer," with a deli that is to die for and a bakery that is deliciously sinful--was to be our sanctuary...err, destination.  I hoped to locate some sanity somewhere between the cereal aisle and the snack foods aisle.  Plus, we were out of milk and laundry detergent (and Monday is laundry day...blech), so a trip to Harmon's was absolutely warranted.

While perusing produce and inspecting bananas for optimal ripeness, I happened to notice Ms. Lilly was dancing around the cart with a bag of gummy frogs in her hand.  (I told her she could have them as long as she "shared them with Cam" and "stopped squawking like a rooster" because she was "startling the other shoppers.")  She was prancing and twirling around on her tiptoes; her messy ponytail flopping against her small shoulders.  She was happily chanting:  "Mom, you are the best mom ever.  You are the greatest mom ever."

I was a little preoccupied by the nectarines, so was halfheartedly and distractedly replying,  "That's nice, Lil" and "Thanks, Lil."

"Excuse me?," an older woman in a funky, floral dress asked.  "Did she just tell you you're the best mom ever?"

"Oh!  Yes, yes she did," I said, somewhat embarrassed.

The woman dropped some broccoli in a clear, plastic bag and said, "Overhearing her say that to you made my day!"  She began to laugh, then asked, "Does she say that all the time?"

"She does," I said, also laughing.

The woman replied, "Well then, she must make your day too!"

KA-BOOM!  Her comment, like a bolt of lightening, struck me down!  I looked at Lilly--skinny legs pirouetting and brown eyes sparkling--and realized she does make my day brighter.  Even hard days, like today.  I just have to remember to look for it.  Suddenly, in that epiphanic moment, everything changed.  My day changed.  My perspective changed.  My attitude changed.

Had I just found my sanity in the produce section of Harmon's?!

As I walked out to my car--with a grocery cart full of kids (and lemon poppy seed muffins and jalapeno salsa and "Chile Picante con Limon" corn nuts...OH MY!)--I thought about attitude.  Sometimes, all we have to do is change our attitude to improve our day.  Sometimes, we need a woman in a funky, floral dress to remind us.        

Comments

  1. There is nothing sweeter than your children...sometimes we just need to go to the produce section for a reminder....I bet you could not find a piece of fruit half as sweet! Cute story... i so can relate!

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  2. This is fantastic! I think I needed funky floral dress lady's attitude change today, too. I was a bit on the frazzled side. I'm a new follower of your blog! This is wonderful. :)

    Mandi
    http://boredombustingmommy.blogspot.com

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  3. I'm linking this post to my twitter, too. Just to let you know. It's too good to keep to myself. :)

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  4. I needed this post! With having two young boys, I feel like I have these days often. Just today, my youngest peed all over the dining room floor and dumped the yogurt cup in his hair.

    Thank you for following me, I am so glad you found me because now I've found you. I can't wait to continue reading your blog!

    ~Mrs. Bee
    http://thebumbleinthebee.blogspot.com/

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  5. I found you through the Tuesday blog hop. you have the most adorable kids!!!!

    Danielle
    http://www.dreammua.onsugar.com

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  6. Wow what a great post and very honest and inspiring too!!
    I stumbled upon your cute blog and I'm an instant follower, you won me over with your sense of humour, your writing style and the fact that as a mum, I can totally relate to everything you just said :)
    Looking forward to playing catch up with your blog!

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  7. Hi.
    Stopping by from the Tuesday Hop to say hello.
    Have a great day!
    POSH!
    http://poshonabudget.com/2011/07/tuesday-friends-and-deals-hops.html

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  8. So very easy to forget what we truly have when the everyday becomes overwhelming. Cleaning marker from the walls and potty training disasters from the carpet can certainly cloud out the rainbow. Your post gave me goosebumps!

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  9. Oh my word - LOVED this post. I have 4 little ones too and have so many days like the one you described. I'm stopping my (and following) to from Fun Tuesday hop. I love your writing style(and I don't give that compliment out lightly either) - hope you have a great day. :)

    http://mccormickmadness.com

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  10. Beautiful photos. Lol, a sweet story I have to share this with all my children who are raising very energetic children. We all need a reminder sometimes of what we have, especially on the rough days. Stopping by from Tiggerific Tuesday. Hope you have a great week.

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  11. Wow! You are famous! I, too, think you are wonderful. But I am not stopping by from somewhere else. I read your blog every time you write something and enjoy hearing you say it yourself (in my head). Today is one of those days. I wish child sedatives were readily available at Babies R Us. Or the case lot sale. I agree that a change of attitude can change the day (I type that as I ignore my son dumping every toy he owns on my lap). But I think a little chocolate can help, too!

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  12. Sometimes I feel like God is speaking to us in moments like these. Just telling us to look on the bright side and appreciate what we have. It's so amazing! I am a new follower from tiggerific Tuesday and hope you would stop by and follow too. http://tootsabellarose.blogspot.com/

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  13. I'm not a mom yet, but I'm sure someday when I am there will be days when my kids will drive me up a wall!

    Btw, I loooove the picture at the top of your blog, you look gorgeous!

    Great blog, I'm a new follower!

    http://marleeindebt.blogspot.com

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  14. Hello new blog friend! I am your newest follower via the blog hop :)
    It would be great for a follow back! Have a lovely day,
    ~meg~
    http://agemmoment.blogspot.com/

    I can't wait to get to know you more, you seem lovely! :)

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  15. Stopping by from the Wonder Wednesday blog hop :)

    I love when we're able to appreciate the little blessings in our every day. I can totally relate to your post.

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  16. Hi Aleisha, thanks for finding my blog (and for the wonderful compliments!).

    Funny I have that same confession on days!! What a great thing for that woman to say at the grocery store :) So sweet! Happy Wednesday. New follower!

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  17. Yes, if you change your attitude your whole perspective of your day can change! Looks like it did all change for you in the produce section....LOL

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  18. Your confession makes me feel all weepy! Thank God I'm not the only one!

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  19. I'll admit I miss those days when the kids were all huggy and lovey. Having 3 teenagers those moments of adoration are much rarer. I'm so glad you were able to find those treasures!! It is amazing what we can take as "everyday" and lose sight of it's incredible beauty

    Found you throught Thoughtful Thursday bloghop
    Hope you'll stop on by and see a little of your world when the kids are teens LOL

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  20. What a beautifully written post! I think we all have those days (some just refuse to admit it) and sometimes it just takes the smallest thing to put it all in perspective.

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  21. Oh boy do I know the feeling! Sometimes I forget to appreciate the little things. I did a post just the other day about the way I treat my family and how much it ultimately hurts them (and me!). It was an eye opener, for sure!

    Found you through the link up at Six Sister's.

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