March's Week One Check-In

I am happy to report I made it through week one. I wish I could say it has been a perfect week and I have been calm, patient, ever connected mother I set out to become at the beginning of this challenge. This week, like every week, has had its ups and downs. There were days I was at the top of my game and days when I've had to apologize several times to my children for losing patience with them, including one especially bad episode around dinner time when I had a melt down. But, let's not dwell on that.....all in all it was an improvement. I have made a conscious effort to be a good mother to my children and it has made a difference. I have felt more at peace. I have felt a bigger sense of purpose in my parenting.
I am not sure all of my children have sensed my efforts, but I do know Paige has. She has always been the child who is most receptive to my moods. This week she has mentioned "Thank you for being so calm with us even though you have a headache." and "You seem really happy today, happier than you were before." These types of comments let me know that my children do follow my lead, that I do set the tone in our home, and that it is SO important for me to show that I love them, I love being a mother, and even though it is hard that they are more than worth every bit of effort I put in on their behalf. I am excited to see what the rest of the month has in store.
This next week I want to focus more on the comments I make, both to my children and about my duties as a mother. There are days when I grumble about making dinner, complain about driving them to school, freak out because their shoes are left scattered all over the entry way AGAIN.... And I have found that some of my comments to them are not at all constructive. So this week I am going to really focus on using the THINK method. Is it to suppress the first thought that springs into my mind and ask myself,
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
And if it's not, I don't need to be saying it to my children. It is easy to find fault with others, but this week I am going to work on finding good and encouraging it. This week here's to keeping my mouthy mouth shut and more deep breathing. :)