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\u201cI\u2019m tired and grumpy\u201d

It\u2019s a common phrase I say, and a common phrase I hear from my kids (I wonder where they got it)

Lately, I\u2019ve been feeling extra grateful for my children, my husband, my home, my life.  Must be all that meditation and consciously working on being in the present paying off.

Today, I took my kids to the waterpark, and it\u2019s a long ways away from our house, and I\u2019ve created a routine that when we go to the waterpark we also go to my favorite grocery store, which is also a long way away from our house, but it\u2019s on the way home.

So we waterparked, had a great time, but always tend to leave with some huff and puff as we never leave when I want to, it\u2019s hard to round everyone up, plus all the wet stuff etc.  It\u2019s a whole messy orchestra.

But I was not going to skip going to the grocery store, and the children know it.  Plus, we needed to go to another store to buy a birthday present for the neighbor.

So we go. And they know the drill.

But just because they know the drill doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s easy to shop with 4 kids let alone 4 kids who just left a waterpark on a very hot day.

As we\u2019re slowly walking through, my oldest daughter says dramatically \u201cI\u2019m tired, and ornery! Aren\u2019t you too mom, let\u2019s hurry home!\u201d

I felt my brain wanting to automatically agree with her, but then I realized, I\u2019m tired, but I\u2019m not ornery.  I\u2019m not feeling grumpy at all, just tired and it\u2019s totally not required for the two to go together, even after a hot messy day.  Even when no one is listening to me.  Even when I have 4 kids whining and asking for things they know I\u2019m going to say no to.  The grumpy just doesn\u2019t have to be there.   The tired still is, but I noticed that gratitude and presence was just a hair stronger than the tired, which was really probably the power that pushed away any grumpiness.

This was an empowering moment for me.  Realizing that tired and grumpy does not have to be married to each other.  They don\u2019t have to go hand in hand.  I can be tired.  Tired physically, tired emotionally, tired psychologically, but still grateful.  Which feels a lot better.

We made it through the shopping trip without any swears, without any tears.  My kids efficiently helped bag and load up all the groceries into the cart and then into the car.  I didn\u2019t even have to ask them twice.

Next time you\u2019re feeling tired and grumpy, just try reminding yourself, the grumpy is not required.  You can just be tired.  Try replacing the grumpy for grateful.

Its so much more peaceful and will produce a more desirable result.

My friends, be watchful and stay curious.