(as told to me by my hubby)…A young Indian boy came to his grandfather, the Indian chief, and told him that he was feeling alot of emotions and how could he best reign in his anger. He doesnt like to feel angry or mad but at times he can't help himself! The chief responded to him that he too struggles with intense feelings like that but inside his heart he has two lions: one that's anger & resentment and the other that is love & kindness. Each of us inside ourselves has two lions just like the Indian chief. "But how are able to always have the love & kindess lion win out?" the young boy asked. "It's easy," said the chief. "I choose which lion to feed."
As cliche as this sounds, I felt it so helpful to me to hear. I find myself wanting to blow up and throw food along with Morgan and slam doors and say ENOUGH. But when I choose to step back, choose to engergize the right set of reactions to the situation…I'm invigorating a set of positive skills that will in time become more natural as a Mom. Until then…throw a little smirk on your face when your child smears peanut butter on your curtains. At least they are able to do so.