Yesterday morning, I was convinced I was being punked. Or Punk’d. Or on that show Prank My Mom.
Because despite all our efforts towards being better organized this school year, nothing seemed to go right.
My oldest had a homework assignment we didn’t discover until breakfast time.
My middle son was sleeping late thanks to not being able to fall asleep the night before.
My youngest grabbed his butt and screamed that he need to poop NOW right as we should have been getting into the van.
The toilet then overflowed.
Middle refused to get out of the van in the drop-off circle.
When youngest and I stopped at the store to grab something for his lunch, the store was closed due to a “system failure.”
Other grocery store had items in weird places so it took us forever to find what we needed.
Then someone with an overflowing grocery cart appeared out of nowhere to jump in front of us in the only lane that was open while I was distracted by grabbing a Mountain Dew from the cooler.
To top it all off, when I got home from drop offs, I stepped in cat pee since apparently one of my boys closed the door to the room where the cat’s litter is kept.
And I said a few choice words that I’m glad my boys weren’t around to hear over my craptastic morning.
Really? I thought. All this on a Monday morning when Mondays are always busy with work? When this is just the start of another busy week, this is how it kicks off? What the heck?
What a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad morning.
And then it hit me.
Pre- 9/11/01 New York
My morning was not that bad.
My morning was full of minor inconveniences and events that I would spin into a funny blog post where we all commiserate about tough parenting days- at least, that’s what I’d do with it if this were any other day.
But, it was not a terrible morning.
All of my kids were safe.
There was no fear that we’d be attacked.
No thoughts that our world had radically changed.
No lives were lost.
Looking back at the events of eleven years ago today, it puts it all into perspective.
So I’ll push aside my small complaints and remember those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001 and in the aftermath.
Those who lost love ones.
Those who have fought to defend our country and keep us safe, so that eleven years later, I’m not fearing for my family’s safety and my worries are all trivial.
It still blows my mind that it was 11 years ago. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
It doesn’t seem like that much time has passed!
Perspective is an interesting thing, isn’t it. Sorry yesterday was a rough one. Thinking of you!
I tend to lose perspective in the rough moments. I’m trying to stay more level headed. It’s a struggle for me.
You’re better than me. I had a horrible day on Friday and all I could think of was “poor me.”
Even this morning was rough and I was feeling sorry for myself. Shame on me.
Most days when I have a bad day, I just think poor me. 😉
Beautifully said Shell.
Thanks, Victoria!
A most important perspective. My mom would always remind us that as bad as we thought we had it, there was always someone else far worse off. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful at all times.
So very true. It’s hard to remember in the moment, but if I can make myself look at the bigger picture, it helps.
You’re right, of course, though I’m still sorry you had a rough morning. Grocery store system failure??? How does that even happen 🙁 It’s almost impossible to believe it’s been eleven years.
I kept waiting for the automatic doors at the store to open, like it had to be a joke. LOL
I’ve been grasping to that same perspective all morning. A rough morning here too but, when you think about it all in perspective, we’re all very much doing ok.
It’s all about keeping perspective- something that I often suck at. 😉
I had a terrible, no good, very bad night last night followed by another terrible, no good, very bad morning this morning. All parenting related, of course. I’m fairly convinced my 3YO hates me right now.
It didn’t even dawn on me that today was 9/11 until I got to work and sat at my desk sipping a cup of hot tea on this beautiful, autumnal Tuesday morning. And that’s when it hit me – the thought of another beautiful, autumnal Tuesday morning 11 years ago today.
Perspective, indeed.
It was a gorgeous day back then, wasn’t it? Such a contrast to the events going on.
Amen, sister. I am sorry about that morning; it was a crappy, crappy morning. Amazing how this day can bring perspective. I’m so hopeful that in this election season where people seem to want to tear into each other, our country and its leaders, 9/11 might serve as a reminder that this country is sound, strong, and for ALL of us.
I want to say Amen right back. All the political fighting drives me crazy.
Shell, I’m SO with you. My struggle today, well it began last year being the 10 year anniversary, is explaining to my babies. They didn’t live through it, thank God. But to try to tell them that this happened, to not scare the shit out of them every time we fly (from the airport that the planes took off from)…it’s not easy – yet I want them to appreciate their freedom.
love to you, to all today.
Trying to explain to them is so hard. I have not done a good job at it.
It sure does put life in perspective. Can’t believe it’s been 11 years.
Doesn’t feel that long at all.
You know this morning I woke up and started writing something for today…and then I realized what day it was. And it all just came back to me. And it put things in perspective for me. I can’t believe it’s been 11 years. Thank you for this, I am sure as the years pass – many will forget or overlook the significance of today. We cannot let them.
There’s a balance to be struck- between remembering and yet moving on.
So true, Shell. So true. I looked at my 3 whining boys this morning and thought that same thing: this is nothing compared to 11 years ago. I get to hear them whine with little worries because of the men and women who are fighting to keep our country safe and secure.
Exactly. It’s a perspective I need to keep in mind when all of mine are whining at me, too.
Thanks so, so much for this reminder. It’s nice to remember that no matter how hard our day may seem, even when wiping the poop off the wall from the toddlers latest art creation, there is always someone who is going through a much harder time.
I can hardly believe 11 years has passed already. That day stands out in my mind so, so well.
Even THOSE kinds of days… are still good compared to what could be.
Perspective. It is a powerful thing.
Something I need to try to keep in focus.
So well said. It’s easy to focus on our own trivial matters, the inconveniences and troubles that happen during the day. A small argument with your spouse, a headache on a busy day, the jerk who cut you off, hitting every red light when you’re already late getting somewhere.
Put into perspective like you have done helps us step out of our bubbles and realize it could be so much worse. The argument will end, the headache will go away, the jerk will be forgotten, and you’ll still arrive wherever you’re going even if you’re 5 minutes late. On 9-11 over 3,000 people weren’t so lucky.
I’ll never forget that day and clearly neither will millions of others. Thank you for such a beautifully written post.
All those little things can add up and make us think things are so bad- I need to try to keep perspective on how things actually are.
I had a crazy morning too and did not handle it well. Thank you for the perspective….I totally needed today!
Doesn’t mean I won’t be back to whining soon- but I want to try to keep this perspective in mind.
So well put. Yes, when you put things in perspective, they aren’t as bad as they seem (at the time).
Hard to believe it was 11 years ago, seems like yesterday.
11 years. Totally crazy to me.
I went through something similar today. Just like 11 years ago, I was lamenting the traffic trying to get to work today. It was also a picture perfect day here in DC just like it was back then. Sigh.
The small irritations. We quickly go back to worrying about those, don’t we?
Yes there is nothing like the past to remind us of how bad it could be. How much we could be without. I am sorry you had such a rough morning though hun
Thanks, girl.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday. You really put it in perspective — I too was having a rough day getting everything done today. Now I remember that it’s all just a minor inconvenience.
Doesn’t mean we won’t all whine a little when things are going bad, but I think we can keep it to just a little if we keep it in perspective.
Yes. Days like today always serve as reminders that even though our days may not be perfect, they most definitely could be worse.
So glad they aren’t worse.
Funny how perspective can change everything. I always try to remember that when I’m feeling down that we are actually blessed to have the seemingly minor problems we have in the grand scheme of things.
It’s easy to lose perspective, I think. We get wrapped up in our own problems.
Remembering 9/11 really does put a lot into perspective. Hope this am was a little smoother for ya though! That sounded like a really rough one!
Thank goodness this morning was much easier.
I’ve had days like that too. I just want to go back to bed and start over the next day. And then…I remember those who are worse off. Like you, 9-11, hurricane Katrina, people w/ cancer, a quadrapalegic I know… there is always someone in worse shape, or gone. We get so caught up in our own little lives. Good reminder.
Exactly- so much worse out there than what we are going through.
Someone somewhere is in a worse situation than us, huh?
So true!
Shell, really sorry you had one of those awful mornings but I do thank you for helping me to re-focus my attitude today! 🙂
I’m having to re-focus my own attitude this evening. 😉 How quickly I can lose my perspective.
I still weep anytime I see footage or even more when they interview family members. I can’t believe it’s been 11 years, it feels like yesterday.
Such a great post, Shell. Really great tribute.
I spent all day thinking about this and how no matter how yucky or stressful things got, they still weren’t as bad as what some are dealing with or remembering. Great post!
What a beautiful post and way to remember 9/11… you are so right, our lives could always be worse.
So well said, Shell. On any day, it pays to raise our eyes. But on 9-11, it’s so universally important.
Great post! But, it still sounds like it was a pretty craptastic morning! ;]