Thankful Thinking

Tis the season to be THANKFUL, and it has gotten me thinking about the way I think as a mom.  I thank Jesus all the time for these two sweet little souls I get to call my babies, but how often do I give thanks in my daily life? How often am I grateful for the day-to-day small tasks that make up my days as a mom?  While there are big “mom moments” from time to time, most of my days are made up of not-so-glamorous things like changing diapers, wiping hands and picking up toys.  Even small tasks that used to be simple before I had kids can be quite challenging, so sometimes giving thanks doesn’t come naturally. 

Take going to the grocery store, for example.  Before I had kids, I would put on my shoes, grab my purse, and maybe even stop for a latte on the way.  I pulled into my parking spot, got out of the car, did my shopping and paid at the register.   Now, it looks something like this:  “Cole, let’s get dressed and change your diaper, because we are going to the grocery store to get your chocolate cookie nice.” (yes Cole thinks that is the sole reason we go to Publix is for his free cookie, and yes he calls it a chocolate cookie “nice.")  Cole’s typical response, “No grocery, no cookie (now I just know he is being difficult,) wear my jammies, no shoes.”  Perfect.  The next few minutes are spent negotiating/threatening/bribing/whatever it takes to get him to lay down for a diaper and wardrobe change and get him out the door.  Sometimes I pack a snack, since he clearly needs something to eat on his way to get his chocolate cookie nice.  We say goodbye to our friends on the Disney Channel (thank you Jesus for Mickey Mouse ClubHouse,) and I strap him into his car seat.  While I am loading Annie into the car, Cole usually has some sort of complaint or issue that needs immediate attention.  I usually hand Annie a bottle while I tend to his emergency, since the sweet child feeds herself these days.

On the way to the store, Cole yells from the back seat, “Cole no like THAT song” about pretty much every song.  When we arrive, I get him out and tell him he has to hold on to Mommy’s leg while I unload Annie.  I then tell him he needs to hold my hand as we walk across the parking lot, which is usually very upsetting to him, since he would prefer to run in front of oncoming traffic.  As we walk into Publix, he has a long debate about which car he would like to drive.  I juggle Annie in one arm and ask him to hold onto my leg and not to touch ANYTHING until I can give the car a “carwash” (AKA wipe it down with fifty tiny wipes.) While I am wiping the car, Annie is leaning down and licking the steering wheel, which gives me heart palpitations thinking about those germs.  I finally get the kids into the car.  Cole makes it clear that Annie is not allowed to drive, and sits on her, which makes her cry.  This is all before we step foot inside the actual store.  I mean, Lord help me, I am already sweating.

Between boring mundane things like picking up toys off the floor, and tasks that are meant to be simple becoming major events, like going to the grocery store, it is SO easy as a mom to have a bad attitude.  It is easy to complain, and it is easy to think about the days before leaving the house was an Olympic event.  I saw something on social media recently, though, that really changed the way I have been thinking.  Many of you probably saw it.  It was a list of things that people may complain about, and beside it a reason to be thankful.  For example, “Dishes to do: means food to eat.”  What a wonderful way to transform your thinking; so simple, yet so powerful. It is amazing what an attitude of gratitude does for your soul, and how it changes the simple tasks into things to be thankful for.  Piles of laundry to fold means I get to be a mom and wife to this amazing family that has clothes to wear….and a lot of clothes at that!  Thank you Jesus for these clothes to fold. Thank you for these diapers to change, because it means I get to care for my sweet babies, and thank you for this house to clean, because it means I have a house (and it's a house that I love). 

While going to the grocery store may not be the easiest task, it is time spent with my PRECIOUS babies that will only be this little for so long, and I am SO thankful for that.  As we walk into the store and straight to the bakery, I watch Cole ask for his “chocolate cookie nice” with a smile on his face in the sweetest little voice.  He politely says please and thank you to the lady at the counter, and he is sure to “no share” that cookie with his sister…and my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you Jesus for these moments at the grocery store.