It was one of those mornings. Everyone woke up late. Everyone was crabby. There was considerable bickering. Still tired and now frazzled, I burned breakfast. Instead of scrambled eggs, we’d have to settle for second choice cereal. Not a minute after it was poured, clumsy little fingers spilled an entire bowl onto a freshly washed floor. After that was cleaned up, I had to deal with considerable hollering as kitchen whisks were being used as makeshift weapons.

Sigh…

Yes, I love my family, but oh, can they push buttons! I try to run a neat and orderly home, but we all know that the best of intentions don’t result in perfection. Rather than stay home as we’d planned, I decided everyone needed a time out.

I quickly put together cheese sandwiches, raw carrots/broccoli, and red grapes. Into a backpack it went, along with sunscreen and bottled water. We were off to the park for an impromptu picnic. For two solid hours, we enjoyed some sunshine and fresh air. The negativity seemed to disappear. I actually got to read a magazine, call my sister for a daytime chat (rare for us), and pick some wildflowers. Plus, the kids thought it was really neat to each lunch food for breakfast (more like brunch time by then).

We can’t always choose our circumstances, but we have 100% control over our reaction. It would’ve been so easy to give up, declare it a lost day, and sit on the couch and sulk. Instead, I chose to not yell, to not punish, to change the scenery, and take a deep breath.

Not a bad decision, huh?

Are you also having a Manic Monday?