Comments on: Plan For Joy

By: Sheila at Dodging Raindrops

Sheila at Dodging Raindrops — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:21:44 +0000

You’ve inspired me to put a voice recorder in my car. I want to capture the precious laughter of my boys when my husband makes outrageous faces through the windows while we fill up with gas.

So, what recorder do you recommend? An “old-fashioned” one with micro-cassettes or a digital one? How do you save the recordings?

Thanks!

By: shayne

shayne — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:51:28 +0000

*sigh*

Loved it.

By: MM

MM — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:35:05 +0000

Wow. This really hit home on a perfect day. Just this morning, my husband and I woke up very late. That harried atmosphere always stresses us out, in turn stressing out our little toddler. As he whined to be held and whined to have juice and whined to find his monkey, I lost my patience several times. WE ARE LATE! Of course, in my head I KNOW that little child doesn’t understand or care about that. All he knows is that Mommy and Daddy aren’t giving him the love, attention and SECURITY that he so desperately needs in that exact moment of his own little stressed world.

I dropped him off at school, full of guilt with my temperament, full of guilt with my even having to be a working mom, which has only compounded since the day has wore on.

I don’t know what I’m going to do exactly, but God willing, tonight will be different than this morning. Snuggles will be had, books will be read, games will be played, whatever it takes for my sweet baby to feel loved and secure is what I want to do.

I am reminded that all to often, I truly miss the point. But it’s always AFTER the fact.

Work in progress…

By: TheChickadeefeeder

TheChickadeefeeder — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:32:03 +0000

When I was a young mother, I read somewhere that you should keep a two-or-three-line diary in order to write down one good thing that happened that day. It wouldn’t take much time, and it would help keep you focused on positive things. I did this, and I found myself having a great time looking out for the ONE good thing I would write down before I went to bed.

By: Rivkeleh

Rivkeleh — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:10:26 +0000

I wrote to a dear friend yesterday that I’d had a “mommy evening” — my son managed to emit a poo so large that he utterly and completely stopped up the toilet, which overran in a horrifying toxic waste spill all over my bathroom floor. I marveled that some of the things that years ago would have made me vomit, now only make me think “well, I’m up to my knees in poop. I’d better take a shower when I’m done.” I’m not sure it’s one of the JOYs of motherhood, but it’s a real demonstration of how much love overcomes adversity…

By: Jenni

Jenni — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:05:42 +0000

I just read the linked post too, and it blew me away as well. Thank you so much for being here to put these thoughts into words.

Jenni

By: Jenni

Jenni — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:00:39 +0000

What a wonderful post. Thank you, AM, for reminding me of what I know is true. I need to become more deliberate in seeking the joy, and, like you, expect to find it!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:05:22 +0000

I think you have a great point. I try to remind myself just how lucky I am to have kids every single day. I have found that if I do that then it is much easier to manage them when they aren’t acting like little angels. It takes some work to be happy!
Great post.

By: Sarah S.

Sarah S. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:11:46 +0000

Love it. Please remember it when homework is remembered at 10 minutes before bedtime and the uniform needs to be washed before 6:30 a.m. and carpool isn’t working out like it should. Because there is joy in that, too, but it seems a little more buried.

And it totally makes me cry that you and Sean now can pray for Jerriann’s son specifically…

By: 3limes

3limes — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:38:28 +0000

People think I am crazy because I am forever photographing or writing on scraps of paper. My husband says that I am obsessed with holding the moment. And that is exactly what it is, I think that if you wake up and get ready to capture the joy in a day, joy will become apparent. There are so many moments we miss because we are too busy to notice. It is wonderful to read your blog and know that someone knows exactly why there is a camera in my handbag, always.