Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

Yesterday, the girls and I spent the bulk of our day trying to get our groove back (As Hubby said, “Oh-kay, Stella…”). After Hubby being home for a month, post-layoff, yesterday marked his return to the workforce at a new job. Hubby, while a wonderful husband and a terrific, involved father, is not the type of man cut out for being a stay at home parent. I know this, he knows this – so it’s not a huge shock that after being home for a month, he all but sprinted out the door while I pushed him!

The girls and I, when holding down the fort sans dad, get into our own routines, have a flow of doing things, and now we’re trying to find it again. However, yesterday, we didn’t quite find the groove.

Between being off kilter with our routines, me having a wicked case of PMS, The Princess not using her “listening ears”, frigid temperatures outside, having to go outside in those frigid temps to haul The Princess to dance class – well, it was not a day of limitless patience. Oh no, I found my limit. Unfortunately.

There are days like yesterday where I feel that I spent the whole day setting boundaries and telling my girls what to do, and putting The Princess in timeout, and asking her to “PLEASE PAY ATTENTION JUST ONCE!” I feel like my patience is wiped out, my mood is shot, and at the end of the day? I feel horrible!

Admittedly, yesterday was that kind of day. By the time I went to tuck The Princess in, I felt rotten about the tone of the day. Yes, I’m the parent, and yes, it is my job to teach her the rules, and how to behave – but even though The Princess is going through a streak of non-compliance, I’m sure it would not have been as bad, had I had more patience. As I sat by her bed, I said to my Princess, “We had a rough day today, didn’t we?” She said to me, “Yeah. Sometimes I’m a big grump and sometimes you’re a big grump.”

I laughed, “I know it. Mommy’s really sorry for being so grouchy. How can we have a better day tomorrow?” We sat, and started making plans for today, and how we were going to have a better day, and try harder to use our listening ears, and be more patient, and use our inside voices. I realize I don’t remember my mom ever apologizing for having a bad day, for losing her patience. But – I do think it’s important. I am not sorry for telling The Princess to stop jumping on the sofa – but I am sorry for my tone. And my mood. I know there are more effective ways of getting through to her than a raised voice, and my lack of patience was not entirely her fault.

Today, we’re off to a great start. She’s in a fantastic mood and so am I, and we have plans to go to the library.

I think we’re getting our groove back.

About sarah

Sarah is a book nerd, a music lover, an endorphin junkie, a coffee addict. Oh, and a goof ball. She writes, she tweets, and she sings off key.

Comments

  1. I’m loving this post. Me and my Girl have had times like this too. It’ll get back.

  2. I am fortunate to have a mom who apologizes when she goes over the line. Even so, I still find it hard to admit when I’ve gone too far with my kids. But, I do. Somedays it feels like all I do is yell, apologize, and tell them I’ll try harder next time. I pray that when they’re grown they’ll remember that their mommy wasn’t perfect, but she tried everyday to do better for their sakes, and that they know I love them.

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