No one is going to bring me breakfast in bed. I slept for maybe three hours last night. The baby is up and the husband is headed out the door. I breathe and tell myself it is going to be a good day.
Spoiler alert: It was a great day.
As a mother, at any given point, the situation is ripe for things to sour. We can open Pandora’s Box and list the many hurdles we face, but instead, let’s concentrate on the magnificent power we possess as moms to make each day fun and productive.
I am quite certain it was not Einstein nor Newton who hypothesized the power mothers have to set the tone in their home. No, I imagine this phenomenon was discovered way before their time and it still reigns true today. If mama is happy, so is the family.
This charge is not a burden, this is a gift. We have the power to determine our own attitude and influence the ones we love most. Now, what happens when we wield this power? It means when your child refuses to eat, the dogs are covered in mud, and your husband has to work late, it is going to be O.K. It means you get to break out in a spontaneous dance party, laugh until your belly hurts, and be confident in your role as a mom. It means when your baby needs comforted, you have the power to make their world better. And when your family faces debilitating struggles, you will be reassuring and steadfast. You have everything you need to make your home filled with boundless smiles and hugs.
Moreover, you are in charge. You set the tone, you control your reaction. How invigorating! If you want to have a great day with your kiddos, you can because you get to decide! If you do not like how things are going, you have the incredible ability to make it better. Your rambunctious two-year old or dramatic tween does not possess the influence to shift the mood in your home, but you do.
The inverse to this power is also true. If you are in a foul mood, your little family will quickly follow suit. That’s quite the load to carry, but I would rather be the mother spreading joy than bringing everyone down with me. Often, this means you will have to make an intentional decision to choose positivity or simply fake it until you make it. There are many ways I have discovered help me rid a bad mood. I will call up a friend to chat, indulge in a glass of wine, blast Footloose and kick up my heels, ask for a hug, go on a walk or do something to make my daughter laugh (this has 100% success rate at busting my bad attitude).
Happy grows a family. Happy heals our wounds. Happy makes fond memories.
Start each day determined to be positive, productive, happy, and engaged. Embrace your awesome power. You may be overwhelmed and you will face challenges, but you are powerful enough to address and conquer.
What are your tricks to boosting your mood?
Thank you for this article. I am usually a negative person but I am trying to be positive for my daughter and this article was very encouraging. Sometimes I forget I have control of things and I shouldn’t let situations get me down.
Thank you for your uplifiting article! Mothers are the balance within families. We must also give ourselves permission to seek assistance as needed, and not see it as failure. Connecting with other like-minded women/families and being in community is essential in the balance of ourselves and our children.