“Don’t try to do what you love, figure out how to love what you do.” Not sure who said it, but I love it and try to apply it to my life. A three year old plus a one and a half year old plus a newborn = absolute chaos. It can be easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated, and burnt out. I have, however, found different ways to shift my mindset to get us all through the difficult times. Here are a few things that have helped me:
Get out of the damn house. Go do stuff. A simple change in environment can make a huge impact on everyone’s mood.
Preparation – failing to prepare is preparing to fail. As much as you can prep clothes/food/activities the night before or or during nap time, the better off the family will be when trying to meet a schedule. This reduces stress for everyone.
Remove items/situations that create conflict. This is a lesson we learn over and over in our house. What items are going to fought over or used as weapons or are just addictive? Simply putting these things out of the kids’ line of sight helps eliminate a lot of issues.
Wake up before everybody else and get some time to yourself – meditate if you’re into that, drink a cup of coffee, or just chill for a little bit. Take care of yourself, not just for you, but for your whole family.
Remember that this won’t last forever and to appreciate it while you can.
As much as you can, deal with life’s other issues as promptly as possible so they’re not on your mind while with the kids. If they are you will be distracted, more easily irritable, and the kids may act up trying to get your attention. This one is a constant battle.
Get help from others – this is where family especially can come in clutch. People who care about you want to help. Take them up on it, but don’t overdo it and show true appreciation for what they do.
Most of all, just try to have fun and remember that in the grand scheme, whatever you’re worried about probably isn’t that big of a deal so let the kids be kids.
Reflections of a Dad 
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