Climbing out of the car, exhausted, I looked around and sighed.
My car was in it’s usual post-road trip state of trashed. Empty popcorn bags, banana peels and an entire roll of paper towels are piled on the floor of the backseat. Approximately 537 pictures have been drawn and litter every nook within our space. It also looks like a storm raining Mentos moved through, unbeknownst to me.
The three loads of laundry I wanted to knock out danced in my mind. But first, we needed to unpack the three times too much crap that I hauled with us.
My inclination was to focus on the negative. I was tired. My hair was disgusting. There was likely nothing in the fridge. No one stopped by and cleaned our house while we were gone. I didn’t get the laundry caught up before we left so the pile was now a mountain. Blah blah blah…
But as I began collecting the pictures and crayons from the backseat, I saw just how many of them were “Mom/Dad/Mayhem” pictures. Pictures of us in the car. Pictures of us on an airplane. Pictures of us at a park. And with a dog (apparently, someone understands the power of intention…).
So I decided right then and there to NOT be a crap magnet.
We had just made a surprise visit to spend some time with family. And it was awesome. We had a great time visiting and catching up. We played outside, enjoyed fabulous weather, and most importantly, traveled safely.
I get into mental trouble when I take my eye off the ball. You know focusing on spending seven hours on I-75 instead of focusing on spending seven hours with my top two.
Our trip may have been quick, but it was invaluable. And while my hair may have been dirty, so was my iced chai.
I think I’m going to choose my thoughts a little more carefully from now on…
this made me feel so happy and positive 🙂
🙂
Love this. Just returned from a spring break trip in much the same state… without the dirty chai unfortunately…then started to download the pictures my boys took of the trip (what happens once they to teenage years and stop drawing you pictures) and made me smile. Thanks!
I can only imagine how fun it must be to see the trip through their eyes (via the photos). It’s so easy to get caught up in the traffic/traveling woes/exhaustion, that I sometimes need to remind myself of how fortunate we are to be able to spend that time on the road.
Hope your spring break trip was fabulous!!! 🙂
The chai caught my eye, so I had to reply. 🙂 Perfect anecdote – it SO easy to take your eye off the ball. Thanks for the simple reminder to stay positive!
IN MY PC, I HAVE THIS PAGE IN MY FAVORITES, MAYHEM IS SO FUNNY.
I AM A MAYHEM LOVER !!!!!! FROM SANTIAGO, CHILE <3