Kids have a way of turning everything into an adventure. Parents can actually cut down on a lot of stress and frustration by adopting this way of looking at the world. As we finish our first week back in New Orleans I’m happy to be home, happy that the work is progressing but frustrated that I am still not in my house. On the other hand, Tyler views our stay at the hotel as an adventure. Sort of like an extended vacation, only at home. After all, he does not have to make his bed. He leaves it unmade in the morning and poof! someone magically appears and makes it all neat and tidy by the time he returns.
He loves going up and down the elevator. Even a mundane task like getting ice from the ice machine is a great adventure to him. And he absolutely loves using the electronic key to open the door.
Me, I grumble that I have to go to the laundry mat (offsite) and wait all of about an hour to wash and dry a load of clothes. I grumble because although many places have reopened in my area there are many more places that have not reopened and I am forced to drive about 20 miles to shop for furniture and other things I need for the house.
When we got back I found out that I needed to get a mailbox curbside so that the mailman can drive by and plunk your mail in your box. Although I have a box on my house, he won’t get out of the truck and put it in. Instead, your mail is returned to sender. I felt, the post office should give you a week or two after your return since in most cases you’re not even aware that the rules of mail delivery have changed until you are back. Again, this was a great adventure for Tyler because he got the chance to dig a big hole, mix cement, plunk the stand in the hole and then attach the mailbox to it.
The point is we should learn to see life through the bright eyes of a child. Instead of complaining about every little setback in our life, we should think of life as an adventure waiting for us to start the journey. I decided from now on to try and think more like Tyler. Let the journey begin.
See also:
Getting Rid of Negative Thinking
Developing a Positive Attitude