We all have them.
I have them – those “throw in the towel days”.
They take work. They are the days when I count the hours till bedtime and pack up the kids in the truck and go through the drive-thru at Starbucks. But, no matter what, that day, the throw in the towel day doesn’t need to stay that way.
Do not throw in the towel yet. Instead, and this is my true heart felt advice, advice that I would tell you over a cup of coffee, it is to stop whatever you’re doing now and break the pattern of the day and do something different.
Out of the ordinary. New.
Like this:
Take a walk.
Eat ice cream.
Watch a movie.
Read a book.
Make pinwheels.
Surf the net.
Organize the junk drawer.
Run outside with your kids.
Draw.
Pray.
Write a letter.
Clean a drawer.
Sit in a chair.
Be quiet.
Do a craft.
Call a friend.
Play the piano.
Go to the store.
Watch tv.
Watch Pride and Prejudice.
Run to the mailbox and back.
Laugh.
Do some origami.
Play the wii.
Wash the dishes.
Brew {and drink} some coffee.
Blow some bubbles.
Cuddle with the toddler.
Fold towels.
Drive to the park.
Swing.
Do mapping work.
Go on pinterest.
Plant some flowers.
Count your blessings.
Plan your garden.
Fill your birdfeeder.
Sweep the walk.
Have a good cry.
Sort the toys.
Look at baby books.
Take a nap.
Knit.
Get groceries.
Build with legos.
Plan your menu.
Do laundry.
Don’t do laundry.
Tweet a friend.
Go to the movies.
Paint your nails.
Paint your walls.
Paint on paper.
Watch the clouds.
Play a game with your kids.
Color in a coloring book.
Read.
Find some chocolate.
Find when the sun sets.
Call a friend {again}.
Breathe. Breathe deep.
The day is a day. One day.
The day can be reclaimed. You can find joy.
Pick up your towel, dry your hands, and start again.
Choose one thing. Only one.
What would you chose? Or what is your solution for those “throw in the towel” days?
13 comments
I scream “bath time” knowing my 2 oldest will come running and they’ll splash and laugh….and everything will be right in the world.
We turn on the 80’s music station on Pandora and turn it up. Something about 80’s music turns my difficult child’s moods around (most of the time) and we all have fun dancing.
If that doesn’t work for her that day I just put on praise music and focus on the many blessings God has given me and pray the music stirs her soul as well.
Hugs. They are the greatest way to turn the day around. I tell ya the power of a hug is immeasurable 🙂
Thank you.
This. Is. Perfect. Thank you.
This is one of those things that I forgot I knew – to break the pattern. I’ve forgotten for a while now…during the days when it’s way too windy to go outside (that’s New Mexico spring for ya!) and everyone is stir crazy…I used to put on praise and worship music and we’d just dance and jump and sing – it would change the whole atmosphere.
Thank you for all of your ideas!
Rachel, I am so blessed by you. Thank you for this post. It’s so hard sometimes, and I’ve really been struggling recently about homeschooling. I have 3 girls, 8, 4, and 2, so we’re really only schooling the 8-year-old, but sometimes she is so difficult and resistant and has such an attitude. Then I think to myself (and even regrettably out loud sometimes), that I don’t deserve this–that she should be in school and I could be having fun with my 2 and 4 year olds instead of dealing with a child who gives me her attitude about school. But I’ve been praying and praying to help me overcome MY attitude, and it’s getting better. It’s a work in progress always!
Thank you!
Great list! I am not there yet, but I may be later today…so I am bookmarking 😉
your posts never fail to catch me. the way you word things … speaks intensely. i love how honest you are. life IS hard. but there are always other options on relieving the challenge of it all. thanks for sharing this list 🙂
I would always always always choose eat ice cream 🙂 what a great list. thanks for the encouragement!
Friend, it’s amazing to me that every single time I visit your blog- the words you have written strike right to my heart. It’s like you are writing exactly what I need to hear at that very moment. Yesterday was one of those throw-in-the-towel kind of days for me. My son just turned two and suddenly thinks he’s Mr. Know-it-All. Yesterday was hard, but you’re right: it is just one day. How I must always remember to be thankful for each day- no matter how hard it may seem.
I need to print the list out. Lately, I have wanted to run and hide quite often. Being a stepmom to 4 kids that have don’t care attitudes about skipping school, getting chores done and being respectful makes me want to have quite a few of those throwing in the towel days. Thanks for reminding me that I’m not alone.
I want to talk to you over coffee! That would be so much fun!
Know that I’m always here praying!
Romans 8:35, 37-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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I’m loving your blog. I just found you…I’m not sure how, but I did. I’m not a stay-at-home mom that homeschools her children (I have thought about it), but I am a first grade teacher that lives 40 minutes away from home. I get up at 4:00 AM and am out the door no later than 6:15. By the time I get home it’s close to 6:00. I still have to do the mommy thing, the wife thing, cook, clean up both girls (2 & 5), get ready for the next day, and grade papers or finish lesson plans and I’m usually passed out by 9:00. Thanks for sharing this list. I need to do something for me occassionally to get myself through each week until summer time. Thanks for sharing!
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