Parenting is such an investment of time and energy, that sometimes we are too consumed by worries or too tired to see what truly can make us feel grateful.  Finding gratitude in parenting may be easier than we think, if we look  to see what only we can see…

 

I know you have felt the following (because I’ve been there too):

 

Parenting is so hard…

Kids are so difficult…

We are so worn out and nothing is working…

There is nothing to be grateful for…

Ugh…

 

Although there are times when all of this feels very true, let’s also find the courage to look for that which makes it all worth it.

 

We will find many things to be grateful for which may not be immediately visible to us. We begin to see what’s there, as soon as we stop ruminating about what isn’t there.

 

Everything we have ever put our energy into, gives us something back.

 

When we put so much energy into parenting, wouldn’t it be only fair that we got some of it in the return? And it does, if we know how to see. We need to look to things that make it all worth it, no matter what. 

 

Gratitude is not about creating a mask of positivity.

 

By looking to find things to be grateful for, we are not trying to hide away from what concerns us or what we want to change. By focusing on what is, we are not trying to create a fancy ritual of denial. Nope. Gratitude is a very practical and balanced approach to seeing both, and actually making sure we see both.

 

And since we are already good at spotting what isn’t (i.e., when the child isn’t listening) and what should be (i.e, the child should help out more), gratitude allows us to balance it with seeing what already is.

Take a listen…