Happiness Highlights: Pushing Through
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Happiness often sneaks through a door you didn’t realize you left open
– John Barrymore
Every day life is full of ups and downs. Some days it is easy to sit back and feel a deep sense of contentment. Life is good, things are easy- happiness resonates off of everything around you.
And then there are times like last week– when I had to stop everyday and look very closely through my exhausted, over tired, slightly crossed not-sleeping- a-wink eyes to find glimpses of happiness.
Zoey had stomach flu. She was puking every hour, pretty much on the hour. It was everywhere except in the bucket I put in her bed. All I can say is it was the nastiest thing I have been through on my parenting journey.
Washing out sheets and blankets in the tub in the night. Trying to pry her puke covered teddy bear out of her hands to take a tumble in the washer. Going through so many pairs of pyjamas that you’re pulling out the summer stock.
I swear if school boards are looking for a more effective way to promote abstinence or birth control all they should really do is force their students to spend the night caring for a toddler with stomach flu. That should do it.
Throw in a teething baby who likes to get up every night at random times and you’ve got one tired mama.
I’m pretty sure I averaged about 2.5 hours of broken sleep for about a week straight.
“Why don’t you sleep when the kids sleep?” you might ask me. But here’s the thing- I’m pretty sure the two of them were in cahoots with one another plotting against me- because they napped- oh they napped- but try as I may- NEVER at the same time. I swear they were taking shifts…..(and yes, I said cahoots- bet you haven’t heard that word in a bit)
As every parent knows- without sleep- everything starts to fall apart.
I spent a good couple minutes feeling sorry for myself (and by minutes- I mean quite a long time).
I wished my mom lived closer and could come help me.
I wished I could pack my bags and head to a hotel for a night of blissful uninterrupted sleep.
I wished I had a night nanny like Jessica-stinkin’Simpson- who could brag about how amazing motherhood is when she enjoys it before 8pm everyday.
And then I sat down and looked at my happiness jar.
And amazing things started to happen.
The happiness came flooding back. I had to keep pushing through. Keep pursuing the joy in everyday.
I saw Liam squealing with joy as his big sister proudly pushed him on the swings for the first time.
I realized that Liam will have a lifetime of swinging on swings- but this first time- this look of exhileration on his chubby face- these giggles that are pouring out of him. This is the first time. I was there. I watched it. I savoured it. I locked it in my memory. That is happiness.
Being blessed with a year off to spend with my Zoey- before she spends the rest of her childhood in school- before she is would rather spend time with anyone other than her weird mother- this brief moment in time when she is three, and loud, and sassy and wild and fun. To be able to sit at the table and make play doh animals without one thought of a deadline, an assignment, a task that is looming over me. That is happiness. To just be in that moment with her. Unrushed. Undistracted. Unbridled with joy.
Fyodor Dostoevsky says that “Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.” Although every day has it’s ups and downs- peaks and valleys- it all balances out in the end. What a ride.
Here’s to Happiness.
– Katie
Beautiful writing as always Katie!!! And humorous as well…keep on blogging and I will keep on reading. Love you, your perseverance, creativity, insight, humor and unconditional love for your children, who I am so very proud to call my Grandbabies!!!
Beautiful story William. You what they say. You have to go through the bad times to enjoy and appreciate the good times. You are blessed with a beautiful family.
Hello Katie…divine and beautiful story. That’s call parenting and serving from the heart with unconditional love. I remembered those sleepless nights….they are nightmares, but the love for our kids will always bring a shining start of happiness to our hearts. Thanks
Always love reading your posts Katie! As a mother and grandmother, it takes me back to the fun times I miss so much now. I do remember those times when our 4 boys were sick, sometimes at the same time. As well as those sleepless nights. (Even as they are grown now, I’ll still worry at times and not be able to sleep so it really never fully goes away-lol) It was so hard when they were little, but at the same time, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. They are such blessings and grow up so fast, it’s seems like a different life or a lifetime ago. So happy that again, you filled your happiness jar with those precious memories of Liam swinging and playing play dough with Zoey. You are a beautiful writer and mother/wife. Love the quote as well. Thank you for sharing these real moments with us readers.. the good, the bad, and the ugly. Excellent stuff! We have so much to be grateful for!
In the end staying at home is worth it, for the mother and child! That will create a strong bond and after 7 years your child is almost out of your hands. You are doing a wonderful job!
Oh, I remember those days all too well. And, yes, they don’t last near long enough, despite the travails illness bring upon you for such a short while. While in the midst, it seems like it will never end, and yet it does. Enjoy these days. They will soon be gone.
I like it, from where do you have the baby jumper hanging from? Good post.
Check this out, my 12 year old daughter is now taking the 21 day blogging challenge with me.
Ups and downs and focusing on the ups makes it all worth while and then some. Seems like you have it nailed, Katie.
What a beautiful post Katie! Such a pleasure to read! Thanks for sharing.
Hello Katie, What a beautiful story. This is what parents are. When God gifted me the honour as MUM then i realized how many sleepless night my mum had when i got sick.Above all, when my daughter born I asked forgiveness for all my stupidities that I did with my mum since my childhood bc i had gone through the same labour pain that my mum gone. Thanks for sharing Awesome story.
Wonderful story, Katie! I’m glad that you were able to take a look into your happiness jar to realize the blessings you truly have as a mother. Kudos to you 🙂
Loved your post Katie.. I have empty nest, my youngest has just left home… so I yearn for those days when everything was crazy… however on the plus side, I have my life back… great post.. thanks for sharing… we have soo much to be grateful for, even in during the toughest times 🙂
love this
thanks for sharing
Katie, great story. It’s the type of story than any caring parent would easily understand.In fact the hardest job and the most rewarding is caring for your own children. It’s a day to day challenge when they are so young. But out of the struggles there will be precious moments that will last a life time.
Loved your post Katie. It brought back many memories of when my 5 kids were small. I remember those sleepless nights with puking kids. The blessings being a mom definitely outweigh the sleepless nights. In the end the joy and happiness you get is priceless. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome post and I can relate to this. My wife and I have been going having sleepless nights last week with our 3month year baby girl. We been taking turn sleeping and helping one another other out taking turn with our Little Angel. Thanks for sharing this post with us.
love the photos you share on your blog, your kids are too cute
Thanks Mom- Lots of love to you. Keep reading- I’ll keep writing.
Thanks Fj. You are right. I like how you put that “serving from the heart with unconditional love”. How true. How perfectly worded. Thank you.
I am so glad you are loving these posts- and I am even more glad that you “get it”. You are so right. It’s hard when you’re in the midst of it to realize that it is such a short season in the grand scheme of things. I’m working on capturing the best, savouring the little things and taking nothing for granted. Thanks for the love.
Why thank you. I appreciate your kind words. I’m just like any other mom, trying to figure it out everyday.
You are right. I try to remind myself of that as I change sheets and hold crying babies. It’s only a season.
The jumper actually has a stand and is taking up half of our living room. Kids stuff has a way of taking over doesn’t it. It’s awesome you’ve got your daughter in on this too. What an excellent outlet for self-expression- as well as a wonderful chance to enhance and develop powerful writing skills. The teacher in me is very happy.
I’m working on- every day. Thanks for reading.
Thanks for reading:)
Glad you liked it and could relate.
Loving my happiness jar. Zoey’s been colouring all over scraps of paper and adding them too. It’s heart warming to see.
You are so right. Many blessings in disguise.
Thanks for commenting:)
It is hard- but you are right. Oh so rewarding. Thanks for reading
The days are long, but the years are short right? Thanks for your kind words
I can’t wait till these kids are teenagers and I can wake them up for a change:) Just kidding- sort of….these days go fast. Enjoy the snuggles
Oh those were the days. And they were the happiest days of my life. Believe it or not, those days when your children are very little and depending on you so much are the days you will look back on in years to come and realize how precious they were. I am so glad you can find the joy and happiness there now. Much love to you.
Thank for the deep inspiration. A very well put together and powerful piece. Thanks again☄☮