What do I want to accomplish today?

I am finding myself having to check my attitude several times a day.  When I want to boil over or just do it myself, I have to ask myself, “What do I want to accomplish in the long run?”

Yesterday I asked myself that question when Tobin, bless him, wanted to get the peanut butter crackers from the top shelf (I can reach it mommy,I can!)  There went my entire Costco size container of real vanilla.  On my new, almost white tile floor.  Everywhere.  He apologized and I sniffed while cleaning up $20 of one of my favorite things.  I had to ask myself, “What do I want to accomplish at this moment?”

I asked myself that question again when we were rolling out cookie dough for Caroline’s tea on Saturday.  Flour everywhere, dog and baby, little boy practicing taekwondo, all in my galley kitchen.  It would have been easier to just do it myself.  BUT, I asked myself, “What do I want to accomplish at this moment?”

And you know what, it was a rewarding day.  My kids had huge smiles on their faces because they helped. Tobin helped clean up the mess and smelled deliciously vanillay all day long.  Caroline, she gets to tell her friends that she made the cookies, by herself.

See, there was a lot of mess involved.  And frankly, it is easier for me to just do it.  Less messy, less work.  BUT when I allow my kids to learn and makes messes in the process, they enjoy it and remember it. 

I need to do this more often.  Let go and just enjoy my kids.