Thursday night was July 6th, and we had not had a regular family bedtime for the last six nights. Some out of town travel, firework shows, and staying up a bit later, had thrown off our routine of books, counting, ABC’s, and prayers. Tonight was the night it was all going to come back to normal, and it was to start with the book, Goodnight Moon. Just minutes earlier we were looking through a sticker book, and I was ready to shift gears and get bedtime routine in full gear. As I started to read Goodnight Moon, I realized I was talking to no one. The boys were in the room with me, but neither was paying attention to what I was doing. They were still in the mode of playing with a sticker book. At first, I tried to gain their attention with reason, “Hey boys, it’s time to start reading our book, come over here and let’s read together.” When that failed I tried warning with punishment or a consequence, “Alright boys if we don’t pay attention to this book, we will have to skip books and go right to bed.” At this point I caught myself getting a bit frustrated. It sounds silly, but I was starting to feel like the boys didn’t respect me, that I was getting picked over by a sticker book. Somewhere in some corner of my heart – I must have felt hurt.
I went deep inside towards this little bit of pain and thought, who’s at fault here? I have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old not paying attention to me. At 30, I can barely pay attention to people, and I’m feeling a bit of hurt from them not listening to me. At this point, I realized I am in charge of this situation. I can allow the sticker book to dominate or I can bring some energy to Goodnight Moon. So off I went with a crazy person British accent vocalizing super highs and super low sounds. The boys immediately thought this was funny, and all attention was on this new (I would not say improved) way to read Goodnight Moon. After a few pages, I could feel which vocal tones would elicit laughter and adjusted as I read through the rest of the book. By the end, the boys were laughing so much that Charlie would fall down from laughing so hard.
I turned a situation from me being frustrated and the kids missing out on their bedtime story, into a fun, laughter-filled moment – in just a second. Just one switch and the moment instantly changed. I had to take full accountability for story time and my role in it, If I want my boys to love books and have 10 minutes of reading time together at night, then I better make it fun. That’s up to me, not them. I have to take responsibility for my roles in life, and if I want to make these moments fun and people engaged – well then maybe I need to keep practicing my British accent.
Heard. Read. Watched.
- Most of Thursday was spent kicked-back, ankle up (sprained on a trail run) and ice. This had me checking out Season 2 of All or Nothing on Amazon. I don’t watch football, but this show is so well done and digs deep into the dynamics of and NFL team. I appreciate the high level of skill and athleticism needed to play in the NFL. They not only practice physically but have many meetings and planning sessions to prepare.
- Divine Direction by Craig Groeschel. This book digs deep into the decisions we make in life and how they are affecting our lives. How each decision leads to a different outcome. This book encourages you to make the right choice and trusting in God with your decisions. If anyone on the team would like a copy – I would be happy to buy you a personal copy you can keep.
- “It’s the small choices no one sees that result in the big impact everyone wants.” – Craig Groeschel
- ” When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.” – Zig Ziglar