Parenting is tough and tiring and generally involves a multitude of thankless tasks performed endlessly day after day like an endless time loop. It is understandable that when we parents get together we’re often just having a good old moan. And please, let me not take that away from you. Just sharing the burden and knowing someone else is going through it too can go a long way to making you feel like you can cope.
However, if you’re tired of the groaning and want to see things from a different perspective, here are some ideas on parenting gratitude to get you going…
Today I am grateful for…
- The pile of dishes in the kitchen – because they mean we have plenty to eat and a home with a kitchen and dishes for food preparation.
- My sick child – because I have the flexibility to be home to care for her and because I know I am needed by somebody.
- The pile of unanswered emails – because it means I have work and am busy and can earn enough to provide for my family.
- The toys all over the house – because they’re a sign of the beautiful human beings who live here.
- My kids fighting – because they have siblings to try out their social skills on and they’re learning to work things out on their own.
- My husband coming home late from work – because he’s doing his best to provide for us.
- The wet washing hanging all over the bathroom – because we have the rain that we so need and plenty of clothes to wear.
- The Internet not working – because it tears us all away from our devices and into connection with each other.
- Feeling tired – because my life is full and I’m involved with my kids to a level that has me falling into bed at the end of the day.
These are just some ideas from my life, but you can find something beautiful and worth being thankful for in every day – it just takes a moment to reconsider the thing you’re moaning about.
I watched a documentary recently about a girl who was one of the few people to survive rabies without a vaccine. The girl’s father was talking about how much he appreciates every day with his daughter now, having come so close to losing her. He smiles when she fights with her siblings, feels warmth in his heart when she backchats him, wants to hug her when she is moping about the house. He knows how lucky he is to have another day with her – whatever that day may bring.
Do we really need to almost lose our kids to be a grateful parent? I don’t think so. But I do think we just need the occasional reminder!
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