Changing Your Perspective
I couldn’t wait to see the smile on my three-year old’s face when she saw Disneyland for the first time.
She knew every song from all the videos Grandma had shown her in preparation.
We entered the magical gates through the security check. Then each adult in our large party decided at separate times to use the restroom.
Everyone wanted a group picture. Oh, the joy of trying to get a child to look at the camera when they don’t want to. There was no way she would budge a smile. Tears flowed as we tried to convince her that there were rides to go on and princesses to see.
We hurried over to the Peter Pan ride to give her a taste of real Disney magic. Next, we tried to convince her (and ourselves) that standing in a 55-minute line was worth being able to fly over London to Neverland for three minutes.
You know, I don’t blame her. Her first hours of Disneyland were nothing like she expected or like we talked them up to be. Anything that involves waiting is torture for a three-year-old that craves instant gratification.
At the end of the day, pure exhaustion hit.
The limbs collapsed in a walking strike as she settled on the ground in the middle of the happiest place on earth.
Who are we kidding? Who hasn’t wanted to throw the towel in for the day and call it quits? I know I have.
Sometimes life doesn’t go as expected, and it’s just plain disappointing.
I look forward to my yearly anniversary B&B trip with childlike anticipation. It’s the only time my husband and I spend time alone. There are 4 schedules to juggle in order to arrange childcare.
My bags were packed, just waiting for the next morning.
I tucked my children into bed.
Maille said her head itched.
I looked at her head but didn’t see anything. Then I saw little brown specks by her hairline.
“Were you playing in the mud today? It looks like there are specks of mud on your face.” The specks were almost the same color as her hair.
As I inspected closer and searched underneath her mounds of thick locks I gasped in fear, disgust and disappointment as I saw a live bug move quickly through her hair. And then another… and another…
So instead of tucking kids into bed and dreaming of relaxing in a spa with my husband, I corralled all the kids in the car and headed to Walgreens. Poor Maille was crying in fear as I tried to calm her and reassure her that we were going to get every single bug off of her head (though secretly, I was terrified to get anywhere near the critters). I stayed up until 2 am shampooing heads and combing out every single nit until there were none. I was in tears as I called my mom to tell her that we couldn’t go on our trip.
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and it’s just plain disappointing. Click To Tweet
Last month my dryer broke and I learned what it is like to hang dry clothes and dry myself with towels as stiff as cardboard. This month my dishwasher threw a fit and decided it was done washing dishes.
Yesterday we stood in line for an hour for the opening of Jurassic World. We got great seats, even though the theater was packed. Then the fire alarm went off. Twice. Everyone was evacuated. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. Just as we decided to leave, they opened the theater back up. But the seats were all taken.
Sometimes these minor inconveniences can seem like a big deal.
But you know what? After the initial disappointment and inner fit-throwing, things have a way of working out. These kinds of disappointments are never as bad as you anticipate they will be. You learn that standing in line is worth it once you are seeing your kid smile. That’s why you go back.
I learned that I was a fierce bug killer. I didn’t know I had it in me. Those critters were NOT going to invade my kid’s hair and make her cry. And I was able to reschedule my anniversary trip.
It wasn’t so bad hanging clothes on a line in the backyard. And no tornado ever came. Now I have a new washer and dryer
I recruited helpers for the dishwashing. It went by pretty quick and it was kind of nice not to unload a dishwasher.
When my plans are thwarted I need to remember…that things are probably not as bad as I make them out to be. Click To Tweet
This too shall pass.
Have you had any days like this? Share in the comment section how you were able to change your perspective.
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Hello! I’m Valerie, a busy mother
of four energetic children and
a wife to my husband of 26
years. I write to help others have courageous faith and discover how to trust in God when they are afraid. 
Haha! YES! Some days are just like that…
https://wateringcanblog.com/2015/10/14/some-days-are-just-like-that-2/
What a fun post, Valerie!
Things do go crazy sometimes, don’t they! Broken appliances, lice, tired babies – all of those things make up life!
And, as they get a little bigger, it becomes even more exciting – fender benders, speeding tickets, crazy dates, silly friends, college and ACT’s!
The older I get, the more I realize how LITTLE control I have and how much control God has. Sure am glad!
Hope you have a blessed day, and thanks for inviting me to join in today~
Melanie
So true Melanie! I’m glad that God is in control and that I can trust in Him no matter what!
Sometimes we have to keep in mind that it is God alone who controls our plans. He knows what is going to happen so we need to trust that He will give us the grace to get through it.
Amen to that Tona! Thank you so much for visiting.
Hi Valerie 🙂 What a fabulous post to remind us to keep looking toward the moments of good in every situation! I loved connecting with you through guest posting together at Purposeful Faith! So imagine how happy I was to see you at #Titus2Tuesday!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I’m so happy you stopped by Lori. I read your post today and loved it! Your words blessed me! Thank you!
So very true – and it seems like they cluster. I’m in a disappointed mood currently after an exciting business prospect has fallen through. I know there is light at the end of this apparent tunnel, and I just have to wait and open my eyes…but it sure can be hard in the moment!
Awe, I’m so sorry the business prospect fell through. I hope that God leads you to something even better!
This post was so relatable to me. Thanks for sharing. Lately I have been sick and have missed a lot of things I had planned to do and I feel like the little one in the top picture, so I needed to read this.
So sorry that you have been sick Chris! Thank you for visiting.
I can SO sympathize with this post!! I LOVE looking forward to things and when they don’t go as planned I can be a big baby. I have learned so much though through getting my hopes dashed. I have learned that I can’t put my hope in this life and with things going as planned, because life has a way of being unexpected (especially with kids) I have learned to put my trust in Jesus and ask him what he wants me to learn through the situation. I gave also learned that I can’t let the situation effect my attitude… I am a work in progress but God is so gracious and patient with me. Thanks for Sharing, your right things aren’t always as bad as they seem and everything usually works itself out even if its not how we imagined! Linking up with you at #tuesdaytalk 🙂
It’s ALWAYS nice to find someone who can relate! When I have a “plan” it’s so hard for me to be flexible and surrender to the change.
I struggle with those things as well. I think we all do. However, sometimes those potholes in life end up bringing us to something better…even if it is just to show us how strong we really can be. (visiting from Mom 2 Mom Monday)
Yes, so true Julie! Those potholes in life always show me that I’m stronger that I thought. Thank you for visiting.
Wow Val that was beautiful and I’m so blessed by the way u express yourself
I hadn’t read your blog before and so I didn’t know how beautifully u wrote let alone the beauty of the words u wrote
Thank you my sweet friend! Your words blessed me!
Thanks for linking up, Valerie! Thank you for this reminder that this too shall pass, such a good read!
Thank you Moriah! I’m looking forward to exploring your blog ;)!
Yes, wise words! We’re in the midst of some tough stuff right now, and honestly, it’s hard to keep perspective and realize that in 10 years, it will all be past and hopefully life will be a bit easier. But it’s true, it’s a phase that we are going through and it WILL pass. Thanks for that encouraging reminder!
Thank you for stopping by. I pray God gives you peace through this difficult time and that soon you will be able look back and see how God worked. God bless!
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind comment! I’m thankful that God gets us through the hard times and uses them to help us become better. Have a wonderful weekend!
What a refreshing read this morning! I have seen those days as well. Thank you for the reminder that everything works out. Praise God for the things He teaches us through them!In Him it is all worth it!
God Bless You and your family. Have a wonderful weekend:)no matter what comes!