Unnessary Commotion

It’s been a while. Too long. I haven’t written in months. August brought a return to school for me, a beginning to school for our oldest son, and the news of baby number three on the way. All of these are joyous things, but here’s the truth: I’ve been tired. And grouchy. Oh so very grouchy. (My poor boys– all of them– I haven’t been so pleasant.)

But it is this unpleasantness that has brought about a new mantra in our house… “No unnecessary commotion!” It resonates proudly from the mouths of my sweet babes, only 4 and 2. So frankly, I take comfort in the fact that even in my grouchiness, I am building their vocabularies one Momma Fit at a time.

I’ll admit, I have been grouchy about some pretty dumb things. But there are things that I have been extra sensitive towards that I like to consider unnecessary commotion.

1. Provoking siblings to anger or tears then deeming it an accident.
2. Being asked if one needs to potty, one answering no adamantly, then politely peeing all over the floor.
3. Incessant tears over not being allowed to wear shorts in 50 degree weather.
4. After successfully getting dressed alone 37 days in a row, putting shoes on before socks and underwear before shorts.
5. Emotional breakdown because there is butter on toast when we have never before eaten dry toast.

All examples of UNNECESSARY COMMOTION. Help me Jesus. I’ll admit it, my patience has been thin, but these are things that just drive me bananas. These are things that could be avoided. These are things my children know very well they should not do, but they do them anyway sending me to a trip on the crazy train. I cannot be alone in this. Mommas? Please tell me that I am not entirely crazy. Please?!

However, in the midst of a very thin moment of patience recently, I realized that as adults, we create for ourselves unnecessary commotion all of the time.

1. Blatantly doing things we know we should not do then not taking responsibility.
2. Procrastinating responsibilities until we are under pressure and are forced to messily and quickly get the job done.
3. Lamenting over things we cannot have that we have no control over.
4. After successfully keeping things in order for many days in a row, letting life get all out of sorts because we are paying little attention to what’s going on around us.
5. Emotional breakdown because what has always been good enough for us no longer seems good enough as we compare ourselves to someone else and allow that comparison to steal our joy.

Isn’t it interesting that some of the things that frustrate us most in life are examples of our own most prominent behavior?

Today, make it a point to take the time and think about your actions and your circumstances. Make an effort to create for yourself no unnecessary commotion…