The specific issues aren't nearly as important as how I handle them. My litmus test for worrying about an issue is to only waste time worrying when it will matter in 5 years. The career and physical issues that I am having today most likely will not matter in 5 years but I have to admit that I can lack perspective when one of my kids is pushing my buttons and it is throwing me off course for the day.
The kid issue is that one of the twins is refusing to do his homework. I mean he is giving a homework protest worthy of Malcolm X! Normally, I would spend the day fighting with him until the work was done. Fueling my rage with whatever food I can stuff in my face and justifying it with "I'll get back on track tomorrow" but today I took a different approach. I closed the door to my room (which I almost never do) and took time to do yoga, calm down, write, and reflect.
And here is what I came up with...
I am spending way too much time and energy focusing on minute details and I am missing the big picture. I realized that the issue is his. He will have to learn how not doing his homework will affect his grades. Don't get me wrong, I am screaming on the inside because it drives me nuts that this smart kid is wasting precious time when he could be done and on to fun stuff. But instead of trying to control every little aspect of today I am only focusing on controlling the devices that he does not get to watch or play with because of his poor choice. Picking my battles is giving me the perspective I need to focus on what matters.
While I am still having a bad day. I know that tomorrow will be better and I can ride out the storm without giving into my old habits.
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