Stressed? Anxious? Down?

I came across this in my journal. Journal is a very loose term as I don't keep one. It's really just a book of wise things I write down when I hear them or occasionally think them up. These particular nuggets of truth I don't think were my own words though? I can't be sure, but I think they belong to one of my favorite mentors, Wendy Evans. But I love it and want to be able to reference it and have my children reference it when they are stressed, anxious or down.... Is it circumstancial? If 'X', 'Y' or 'Z' changed my mood be better?? If so, that's a miserable place for me and the people around me to live because circumstances will ALWAYS change beyond our control. Constants are: God's character, God's plan for my life, His love and his purpose for my life, and heaven. Learning to be truly focused on these things can completely remove anxiety.

Kindergarten

Hayes is only 3 1/2 and is already obsessed with wanting to go to kindergarten. Every time he sees a school bus, he brings it up. This week, he wanted me to drive by and show him where he will go to kindergarten someday. Made me sad! But I did it. We pulled right up to the door while he asked 'is it that WHOLE big building? Do I get to play in that park(playground)?Does my school bus come here?' and lots of other questions:) I've known since he was a baby how independent he was, but I didn't think he'd be this ready to leave the house already!

Take your child to work day

Today is that national 'take your child to work day' or whatever. The one where the schools are actually OFF so they can go to work with a parent. I remember it being around to some extent when I was younger, because I took advantage of it once. Today made me think of it for the first time in awhile! I think I was in either 7th grade or Freshman year in high school. You could get out of going to school for this. The ENTIRE day. So I briefly ran it by my dad (who was pretty much self employed) knowing I wouldn't really be going to work with him. I knew it would just be a fluff day where I could get away with sleeping in and doing nothing. He said sure, so we were good! The night before, he asked me if I wanted to 'go to work' with him, or with my mom. And I chose him. Well, my plan didn't work out as well as I hoped. Instead of sleeping in, he woke me up VERY early, around 6 or so if I remember correctly. That's SUPER old for being a teenager. Still early for me now. But he was such a disciplined guy, that he started his day early even though he didn't need to. He didn't have a boss. But he would start his day by reading the Bible and exercising. So here he was, hanging over my bed, super early in the morning, asking if I wanted to go for a walk or go through his 'morning floor exercise routine'. My choice. I don't even think it was light out yet, and I already regretted my decision of telling school I was going to work with my dad. I remember there being a short argument like 'are you serious dad?' and him telling me that I could go to work with mom who had like ten Bible studies planned with 30 ladies or something and that if I thought this was going to be a free day, I was WAAAy wrong. He totally got me:) I opted for the walk. I don't think we talked. I really don't think we did. Sadly, I think I was pretty pissed off most of the day. My memories of the day aren't 100% clear but I know we went to the farm for awhile and did some 'boring Bradley stuff'. But it's funny how now, as an adult looking back at what I thought was such a waste of a day was. I had no idea that within a couple years, I would NEVER get to see my dad again in this life. Never get to take an early morning walk or do some boring college work with him. What I wouldn't give! But how grateful I am that he didn't just let that lazy teenager sleep in and take advantage of that free national holiday, because now I have that funny little memory:)

Tag Team

Here's what happened while I was getting the spaghetti ready. Two little kids stole the Parmesan cheese off the counter and dumped the ENTIRE full container onto Bria's floor, and rubbed it into the carpet. Her room smells like barf.

Punishments

Since Hayes was about 14 months old, we've struggled with finding the right punishments for him. Over the last year and a half, we've tried it all while struggling to be consistent. I have a hard time being consistent when somehow every punishment with Hayes turns into him out smarting me. Just a few examples: -Vinegar. This worked for a couple weeks. When he talked back or said mean/disrespectful things to me, I'd put a cotton ball soaked with Apple Cider Vinegar on his tongue. This kills two birds with one stone, as ACV is very good for his immune system. Tastes terrible. TERRIBLE. But after a couple weeks, Hayes would ask for 'binegar'. -Spanking has taken a back seat, as he recently doesn't flinch. I'm spanking him HARD, with a plastic kitchen spoon. He turns around, sticks his butt out, and says 'this is going to be funny'. Takes his spanking, and says 'that was funny'. If it hurts, he should get an award for his acting. I literally don't feel right spanking him any harder than I already do. -Taking away toys. This worked VERY well for a couple weeks. He'd cry and cry. But just now, I went into his room and said if he didn't clean up the game (that he threw all over his room in a fit of rage), that I was going to take some toys away. He replies with 'Ok, maybe you should take two toys.' and proceeds to hand me all of his toys. Just walking around saying 'here, take this one too'. -Sending him to his room, is still the only one that slightly works. Until you hear him throwing toys against the door, punching the wall, knocking over shelves etc. -Sticker chart. We have a chart in the laundry room that has just THREE stickers. If he can make it through the day with all 3 stickers up, he gets a prize. He gets stickers for obeying and doing random good things. And gets stickers taken away as well. We've had that thing for about 6 months, and there hasn't been a single day where he's ended the day with all 3 stickers. I've shown him the prize he gets if he can get 3 stickers. I've even been gracious and given him freebie stickers when he didn't quite deserve it.