It's been one of THOSE days!

Ugghh! It has been one of those days. Those days that the older generations of women stand back at the grocery store and watch with a smile and then say "Eventually, you'll miss these days". I think to myself... "Will I? Really? You've got to be kidding me!"

The middle of the night wakings of a 13 month old and a desperately yelping puppy. "Seriously? I'm gonna miss THIS?" How do you comfort a crying baby while cleaning up stinky, runny poop inside a dog crate AND keep the puppy out of the way at the same time - without waking up the entire house? (Poor puppy has had diarrhea for 2 days) It's 3:30 a.m. mind you - or was it 5:30 a.m., I can't get my nights straight. This has been my life the last 2 nights.

So blame it on insufficient sleep or pure grumpiness, today was one of THOSE days. I lost it. I became the 3 year old and the 6 year old, all rolled into one. Good thing for school or the 8 year old may have been involved as well. And I must add, thank heavens for at least half day kindergarten or I may have completely lost my mind today. That 3 hour break was a lifesaver, for all of us.

This is me... YELLING...
"STOP THE FIGHTING! I CAN'T HANDLE THE FIGHTING! DO YOU LIKE IT WHEN I YELL? DO YOU LIKE IT WHEN I AM MAD? WELL, THAT IS HOW I FEEL WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING AND YELLING WITH EACH OTHER! STOP THE FIGHTING!"

I must say I didn't lose it completely. I didn't spank or hurt anyone - maybe I should have. Is that the problem?

So, come 8:00 p.m., getting the kids in bed was priority one. At least 3 of them. Too bad the 2 keep waking up the 1. Calgon... take me away! (I bet you youngsters don't remember those commercials.) So she is still crying, what to do... I hate this decision. Do I go in? Do I let her cry it out?

As I ponder what to do next, I think of the quotes on my magnet board in my kitchen. They are mostly hidden by crayon scribbled pictures and handouts from school. When I uncover them I read...

ENJOY THE "DOING"... NOT JUST THE "GETTING IT DONE"
(M. Russell Ballard, Oct. 2008 General Conference)

BE TENDER AND KIND TO THEM;
DON'T BE FRACTIOUS TO THEM, BUT LISTEN TO THEIR WANTS
(Said Joseph Smith to Emma regarding their children.)

BE KIND AND TENDER TO ONE ANOTHER. FORGIVE EACH OTHER, JUST AS GOD FORGAVE YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.
(Ephesians 4:32 - the Veggie Tales Translation)

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
BE KIND AND TENDER HEARTED
BE SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER
TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE YOU TREAT YOUR FRIENDS
and most importantly...
LOVE ONE ANOTHER - DEEPLY FROM THE HEART
(Home Rules)

Are these the qualities my children will remember about their mother? Or will they just remember her yelling at them to get her point across? I know we all do it, we all have "THOSE days". And it is a good thing that we do. Otherwise, what would posess me to uncover all my quotes and actually read them once in a while? We all need reminders. Gratitude. Love. Humility. I just hope my "Those Days" are fewer, and quieter, from now on.

I did go and rescue her from her crib. No evidence of why she was crying. But I am holding her now and she is happy. Smiling. Babbling. Now it is peaceful, no more noise. This is my pep-talk. I think I can do this again tomorrow. I think I can... I think I can...

I know those old ladies are right. (And Trace Adkins too.) We will miss these days. The fighting, the runny noses, the temper tantrums, the middle of the night wakings, the potty training - ok, maybe not the potty training. But these are the days where we, as moms/parents, feel important and needed. One day soon, it may not be that way. As a neighbor friend of mine pointed out once, their problems get bigger as they do. Now they are simple and easy to solve. Soon their "fighting" with others will involve hurt feelings and heartbreak. This gets complicated and solving them will last more than the 5 minutes that their problems do now.

We will miss it.

So, as I go to put this sweet girl to bed, for the fourth time tonight, I will promise to do my best to better follow the above quotes. Specifically, my own Home Rules:
Count Your Blessings and Love One Another.
And not just say it, but actually show it and live it, deeply from the heart.

p.s. See my playlist (on my blog) to hear Trace Adkins - "You're Gonna Miss This"