Dealing with Frustration

As you know I am back to work and back to writing and sharing with all of you.  

Unfortunately, it has been a frustrating process and this is why...

I had completely UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.  

I was so excited about the prospect of working again, while also staying home with my son for his first year. In my head I had a picture of exactly how it would go.  

I would drop my older daughter off at day care, then I would hang with my son for awhile before he napped for a good 2 hours. That would be my work time. After he ate, and I ate, we would hang out again and he would nap again for 2 hours. Again, I would work.

All told, giving me 4 hours a day to work around the house, workout, and work-work.  

The reality is quite different.  

The 2 hours naps are really just 30 minutes here and there, and if I want him to nap longer he wants to be in my arms. 

I don't know how many times I have said to my husband, "I didn't get anything done today." He always responds with, "Yes you did, you took care of our son."  

Right, I did.

My hidden expectations of how it "should" be have left me frustrated. In order to alleviate the frustration I have to shift my mindset and work through how it actually is.  (My son's giggles also help.)

Some days he will sleep great, other days he won't. If I want to work, I may have to work differently or not at all. Either way, I have to be okay with that.

I made the choice to stay home with him for a year. It isn't his fault--he's only 3 months old after all.  

If you, like me, are feeling frustrated around a situation or a person, look at your expectations. How is the picture in your head different from reality? How are your "shoulds" getting in the way? 

There is no way that anything or anyone "should" be, there is only how it is.  

If we can't change a situation, we have to change how we view it.

It's Your Life. Live It Boldly.