The alarm rings, you press the snooze button a few times – making you later than you wanted to be.
You’re jolted awake by a screaming baby, again.
You’re strong willed child has decided to press every button you have all while deciding what is going to be for breakfast. You’ve disciplined six times before breakfast is even over with.
This is going to be fantastic day, you sarcastically say to yourself while reheating your coffee for the nineteenth time of the morning.
No one can find their backpacks or homework for that matter.
Mom gets grumpy. Kids in turn get grumpy. Before you know it your day is heading down a downward spiral.
I have lived through many sleepless nights leading to a sleep deprived functioning state. So I know, once you get into a grumpy funk it is hard to climb out of it.
You believe that your day cannot be salvaged. I’ve been there.
My Little Guy was born with some health issues that caused him to not sleep for the first nine months of his life (he had surgery at that point and slept great after that!). Typically, he couldn’t sleep longer than a 45 minute stretch. He was also the second child, so there was a very active Big Guy who needed my strength and attention during the day. I had to function. We just had to get through the day. We were in survival mode. Most days we were in a constantly-running-behind schedule because Mama was too tired!
Then the same child turned out to be the strong willed one of my crew. He has made it his mission to try and derail most days. Or at least that what it seems like! Ha!
He challenges every thing that he can which requires lots of physical and mental strength to train.
Until recently, I just rolled with the punches so to speak. Getting through the day was all we could achieve most days. I’d collapse into bed hoping tomorrow would be a better day.
Thankfully, most days are better than they were a year ago but every once in awhile we do have a morning with one of the above scenario. Because life is unpredictable.
Someone will wake up on the wrong side of the bed and in turn it will affect the whole crew – all before our day really begins.
But I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to! You don’t have to let one grumpy child control your day. You don’t have to let your emotions control how your whole day will play out. You can easily change the course of your day! You can find joy in motherhood during these demanding, unpredictable times.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
How to Turn Around a Bad Day
Change Your Attitude.
Even when our day throws us a curveball, we can still have control over the direction of our day and our attitude towards it.
As the Mama, its up to us to set the tone. Our children will change their attitude once we do.
Start with deciding to turn around your day.
Take a time out to read your Bible and pray.
Even if you have to set up a movie for your children so they’ll give you 15 minutes of peace, do it.
Get alone (if possible), read a few verses and take your day to the Lord in prayer.
Ask Him for the strength to start your day over on the right foot. Pray for your attitude and your children’s attitude. Pray for strength to train up your children well.
Ask for wisdom, He will be faithful to give it to you.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
This time will leave you feeling like you can actually turn around a bad day instead of feeling like its spiraling out of control.
Get outside.
This is so important. The fresh air and sunshine does a body good. It refreshes us!
Getting out of the house can get the grump out of most kids! Take them for a long walk or to a park to play.
Or let them run wild in the yard, playing ball, chalk, bubbles. Whatever it is you have on hand!
The exercise and free play will tire out your kids for a good nap too!
Go for a drive.
This is one of my favorites. Some days the kids just want to bicker and fight and drive you up the wall. Amen? Well, strapping them in their car seats, turning up the music and going for a long drive seems to help tremendously.
The kids get a break from playing with each other, while still being together.
On these days, the thought of taking them to a park seems too exhausting so a car drive allows us all to get ourselves together. Its pretty amazing how well this works!
Turn on praise music.
Whether you’re in the car or at home.
My kids love music! I love to turn on music nice and loud and let them be crazy running around the house. They get their energy out and they all end up giggling.
Spiritual music makes it really hard to have a grumpy attitude.
All of these tips are key in helping me turn around a bad day in our home. Once we try a mixture of them, we are all much happier and willing to face the tasks ahead. Even the Little Guy!
Which is amazing to me! We don’t have to passively let our day overtake us.
If you’re struggling with your days consistently spiraling out of control, don’t let Satan trick you into believing you’re a terrible mama who can’t get it together with her kids. You are able to change your day, you just need to intentionally chose to do it with God’s strength.
Your turn! How do you turn around a bad day?
This post may be linked up with any of these blogs.
34 Comments
Ifeoma Samuel
October 3, 2015 at 9:46 amHi Ana, your post is filled with lots of experience and wisdom.
Taking a walk is good for me. It is part of our family ways of spending time together. Thankfully, my daughter loves it outside.
You write beautifully and sincerely Ana. I appreciate visiting you, friend.
Thanks and God Bless
Anastasia Safee
October 3, 2015 at 2:13 pmThank you for the encouragement! Getting outside is so good for us! It’s amazing how it can turn around a bad mood.
Valerie
October 3, 2015 at 3:16 pmSuch helpful tips! Thanks for the encouragement not to let our day overtake us!
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 6:48 pmThanks for stopping by Valerie!
Susan B Mead
October 4, 2015 at 6:25 pmAna, yes indeed! I also found that when we were running late and getting grumpy, I could sit on the staircase, beckon both boys to come sit a moment to hug them, tell them how much I love them and amazing-we would get out on time if not early.
Totally changed the atmosphere and tempo! Love. Yep, it works.
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 6:48 pmI will definitely give that a try as well! Thanks Susan!
Lux
October 5, 2015 at 8:20 amWe can’t always control what happens to us but we are in total control how to react to it. 🙂
Great read. Happy Monday!
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 6:50 pmSo true, Lux!
Jessica
October 5, 2015 at 11:58 amThis is such great advice and I feel that you’re speaking right to me!
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 6:51 pmSo glad it was an encouragement to you! We don’t have to let our bad mornings dictate how our day goes.
Elizabeth @ Guilty Chocoholic Mama
October 5, 2015 at 1:01 pmWell, our Monday is not off to the most stellar start! So, I’m going to get facedown and pray and then go outside and walk! 🙂 Thank you for this wise and practical turn-around list…stopping by from GOOD MORNING MONDAYS!
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 6:57 pmSuper glad this post could help you this morning. I have been there! it is tough to overcome but we can control how our day turns out! Praying you are successful in your endeavor this morning!
Amanda
October 5, 2015 at 10:09 pmThank you Ana! I found this as a supplement to my scripture reading! You have so much more experience than I do with turning your mood around! Thank you for being an example to all of us to radiate the light of Christ to our children!
Anastasia Safee
October 5, 2015 at 11:50 pmThank you for the encouraging comment, I’m so glad you can learn from my experience! You don’t have to let a bad start to the day make the whole day bad!
christen spratt
October 6, 2015 at 12:58 amI love the practical and tangible tips! Thank you!
Anastasia Safee
October 7, 2015 at 1:06 amSo glad Christen!
Linda S
October 6, 2015 at 2:25 pmGreat Post Anastasia! WE all have those days when we have to choose to re-boot and re-direct our attitudes. Thanks for the tips and encouragement.
Anastasia Safee
October 7, 2015 at 1:15 amSuch truth! I know we all like to pretend we have it all together but some mornings just backfire and we need to turn it around to salvage it! We can do it! 🙂
Amy
October 7, 2015 at 2:26 amLove your ideas to turn around a bad day-especially needed with our homeschool! Thanks so much!
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:18 pmYes! So needed when you face school time!
Betsy De Cruz
October 7, 2015 at 6:53 pmAna, you title caught my eye because I’m having a bad day for sure. Thanks for the practical encouragement! I’m going to change my attitude now! This is the day the Lord has made! #coffeeforyourheart
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:21 pmI’m sorry your day didn’t start well. I hope you were able to turn your day around with some of these ideas!
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect
October 7, 2015 at 7:16 pmGreat tips! I have definitely taken many drives on bad, at-home-with-kids days! Getting out and changing our view, even if we don’t get out of the car, can really be an attitude adjustment. And when we add good music and a Sonic slush, then we’re really grooving! 😉 Thanks for linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:21 pmA sonic slush! Perfect! A special drink would definitely help my mood too! 😉
Jennifer
October 8, 2015 at 3:31 amI love your simple encouragement here for a struggle we all face. You’re so wise to point out that moms set the tone for our homes – it’s both a privilege and a responsibility, isn’t it? How thankful I am for God’s help! Thank you for linking with us at Grace & Truth!
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:27 pmIt’s a huge responsibility! I couldn’t do it without God’s help, I fail all to often in my own strength.
Candace
October 8, 2015 at 12:31 pmWonderful tips and inspiration here! The start of your day really does set the mood. I can’t believe how much my entire days have changed since I started opening my Bible first thing. Getting outside is something I always forget to do, but I completely agree, it changes everything :).
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:30 pmDoing my quiet time in the morning has been a key factor in how our day turns out as well. If I somehow don’t get to it and our day is off track I try to remember to point that out to my children. Teaching them that it’s important reading your Bible is in your life. Teachable moment right there! 🙂
Karen
October 8, 2015 at 1:02 pmI am at a totally different life stage with my kids than you but still have to fight the same battle against letting grumpy kids control my mood. I have high schoolers and homeschool so there are days when it seems that everything with them is a fight. “I don’t want to do ____” “Do I have to do ____”? “You never let us _____” it’s easy to get worn down quickly so I implemented a couple of your suggestions years ago. It definitely makes a difference when I start the day in the Word with my focus right. And when I’m in the trenches, I find it very helpful to separate myself from the house for just a little while and walk outside to my garden. just being alone in the fresh air has a way of settling my irritation most of the time. Thanks for your suggestions… and hang in there with your kiddos!
Anastasia Safee
October 8, 2015 at 1:33 pmI am a wee bit worried about the teenage stage! Those set of challenges sound tiring. Getting alone sounds like it would be key after fighting all those battles all day. I love gardening! It is so peaceful so I can understand your desire to go out there 🙂
Mary Hill
October 8, 2015 at 1:32 pmGreat tips. Especially, turning on the praise music. I try to do this, but unfortunately, my daughter doesn’t like contemporary praise music and that is all that is on our radio. I really need prayer on this. I want my daughter to love Christian music, but she love the teen pop music some of which I find offensive and not edifying. I know when I was a teen, I liked pop music too, but I really believe today’s pop music is much worse.
Anastasia Safee
October 9, 2015 at 2:04 amI agree that today’s pop culture music is far more offensive than it once was. It just keeps spiraling further down each year too. I’ll pray for you tonight for the Lord to give you wisdom with your daughter and for the Lord to soften her heart. Don’t give up! Bring it to the Lord often!
Chris Carter
October 9, 2015 at 1:24 pmOh have I BEEN THERE. Both my babies didn’t sleep at ALL through their first year! It can be so exhausting, and just like you- even when they grow and you can manage better, it’s STILL hard on some days to muscle through the tough challenges we face as moms.
These are such great tips. Thank you for the guidance and encouragement we all need some days!
Anastasia Safee
October 10, 2015 at 6:36 pmIt is so rough! My younger two didn’t sleep till 9 months old, it was unreal. I couldn’t imagine waiting till they were one, you poor thing!! Looking bad I wonder how I didn’t loose my mind completely. 😉 I’m thankful God gets us through somehow!