One of THOSE Days

Have you ever had one of “those days”?

And I mean one of THOSE days.

Well today… today was that day. One of many that have come before, and one of many that will come after.

I sit writing this post with two sleeping children, because let’s face it, it would have been absolutely impossible to have done it with them awake. I mean it — that sort of day.

For those who don’t know, I am a stay at home mom. And my husband is a work from home father. So all four of us are home.

A lot.

And can hear each other.

A lot.

Today was one of those days where one child is clingy and whiny, and the other is defiant and unkind to the first.
Where I had low patience at the outset.
Where every button that could be pushed, was, and my too-clever-for-her-own-good daughter pointed out that my buttons could not have been pushed because I “wasn’t wearing any”.
Where I was trying my best to keep my cool while keeping control because my poor husband was taking client calls in his office, right next to the playroom.

It was one of those days where the saying “the days are long, but the years are short” really rings true.

But the day is done. *Breathes deeply* The day is done.

You’re probably thinking, “Christina, but you’re a therapist, don’t you have this figured out?”

Don’t I wish.

I am a fallible human, and sometimes I think my background can set me up for failure even more because I expect more from myself.

I “know better”, right? But you know what?

This is hard — for everyone. It’s hard for you and it’s hard for me.

So as I unwind to end my day, I will continue taking those deep breaths.

I will reflect that this was a tough day, but that it was just that: one day — in a lifetime of many wonderful and amazing days.

And that my children, like myself, are human. And they’re allowed one of those days too.

Read this article from Tamara Patterson on The Gottman Relationship Blog to learn more about how to respond appropriately to child in their moments of need. You can bet I’m reviewing this tonight!