Go Fly A Kite

Sometimes I find myself feeling defensive and grumpy at my children's requests, and I don't even really know why. So today, when my son's request to go kite flying made me feel annoyed, I had to stop and ask myself why it made me feel that way?

Once I did, I think I was able to figure out the answer. I'm a busy mom, and with three kids old enough to have lots of ideas and requests, I always feel as if I am behind on my life and that every request is a new thing to tag onto my to-do list. It probably doesn't help that they tend to ask me these requests when I'm feeling most busy, or after a really busy day when I have sat down for the first time. Even if their requests are relatively simple, they often make messes, or require set up, or a time of the day where we need to go somewhere to make the request happen. So, subconsciously, with each request I am mentally adding up the cost of the ask, and feeling like the struggle to make it happen is more than I can currently handle, but also hate being no fun and always saying "No", or "Later". 

It's then that I realized what needs to change. My kids have lots of good ideas, and these years and moments to make memories are too precious to throw away. I need to stop thinking that each request is something to add to my "To-Do List" and start a "Bucket List" instead! Perhaps even having a list that my kids can write down or draw pictures to remind ourselves to do it. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and subsequently irritated by the overwhelm, I can say "Sounds like a great idea to add to the bucket list!"

I hope to incorporate this idea soon, and hopefully more importantly, begin to see my children's never ending requests in a different light.