Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

A Rough Morning and Some Perspective

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.

9 11 memories

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.

Comments

    • I tend to lose perspective in the rough moments. I’m trying to stay more level headed. It’s a struggle for me.

  3. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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. 

  9. 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. 

  10. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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. 

  14. 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.  

  16. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  21. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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!

  25. 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.

  28. 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. 

  30. 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!