Two kids, two dogs and 3 adults living in our house right now.  In a three bedroom, one bath house.  Some days it is crowded, and most days I feel like I am drowning in housework.  I'm fairly certain that since becoming a SAHM, everyone else in the house has lost the ability to wipe up the kitchen counters after themselves.  I think it may help my stress level to put up signs for them to clean up your own mess and signs for me to take a deep breath.

First day struggles

The dreaded H monster has visited us today.  Yes, that horrible, terrible, dreadful creature called- HOMEWORK.  Oh wait we have that every weekday.

Less than 12 hours after my first post, my resolve to be more positive is tested.  One grumpy and overly tired 7 month old, due to lack of afternoon nap and one grumpy 10 year old, who really hates homework.  Anyone who has had a baby can understand how vital naps can be, not just for the baby, but for yourself as well.  And well, anyone who has ever had to do homework can understand how difficult it can be to start some days.  Combine those two, and well, we had a few tears.  As for me, I had to take a break from the emotional daughter and chill in the bedroom with a very grumpy baby and focus on trying to either get him to nap or at least, not scream.  Thankfully the wonderful hubs came home, gave me a break from the sleepy baby and I was able to help my daughter "shake the stress away" and get in a few giggles before we buckled down and worked on the dreaded homework.

So a little info on my daughter, she is smart, funny, charming (when she wants to be), caring and has been diagnosed with ADHD with a mood disorder.  So what does this mean for our family? It means that traditional ADHD medication doesn't work for her.  Most medication, while helping her focus, also makes her incredibly sensitive and prone to emotional breakdowns and panic attacks.  Stress is a huge trigger for her which often ends with a lot of time wasted and late nights doing homework.  We do our best to make sure to take breaks, eat healthy and get lots of exercise to help this, but some days, it is inevitable.  Today was that day.  We pulled through and live to fight another day!

Life changes

I find that today, so much of our lives focus on the negative.  We don't have this; we don't like that and so on.  And this is what we are teaching our children.  To want.  To desire.  So this is my journey, to change how I think, and focus on what I have, and to teach my children to think the same way.  I find myself constantly reaching for my phone or grabbing the laptop instead of focusing on my children (yes I realize I'm on a computer posting this) and I want to change that habit.  To focus on family.

So today, I'm thankful for my amazing family.  My daughter- who is smart, funny, and loving.  My son- who was born healthy, and is sweet and cuddly.  And my husband- who came into my daughter and my life, accepted us, flaws and all and loves us.

How do you focus on the positive in your life?

Photo taken by Type M Photography