How to Turn Around a Bad Day

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?

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