Let's be honest

Sometimes I have a bad attitude. Many that know me well can attest to this fact. This evening was one of those times. Seriously folks, I wish I could figure out a better way to control it. Then sometimes I think, "Why can't I just have a bad attitude right now? Most of the time I have a pretty good one." However, I am pretty sure that is always the best route to take.

So then I start thinking about my bad attitude and try to figure what caused it. I really don't want to be carrying around feelings of frustration and annoyance. Then I get frustrated again because I remember what caused my bad attitude and then I get frustrated again. So you see my vicious cycle.

Here is my new solution. Go to lds.org, read a conference talk, especially one by Elder Ballard, and then forget about what happened and resolve to be cheerful in the morning. Now I am going to take a bath, eat a bowl of chocolate Chex (definitely my new favorite snack) and watch TV with my husband. Good night.

Here are some pearls of wisdom from Elder Ballard. Enjoy.

The first question: What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?

First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.

Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).

Second, don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows...Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.

Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children... Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.