by Jennifer Dyer
While in the car the other day Eldest said, “Mom, everyone at school has a new iPhone.”
“Everyone?”
“Yes.” She spread her hands wide. “Everyone.”
I knew how to play this game, as I’ve spent a lifetime cultivating the skills necessary and could name a host of people who do _____ better than me. I said, “Oh, does Friend 1 have one?”
“Uh, well…no.”
“And Friend 2?”
“Well, no…”
We went through a list of several friends, none of whom had an iPhone.
My initial reaction was to lecture about why she was wrong and focusing on the wrong things and blah, blah, blah.
Instead, I sighed. “Honestly, I know exactly how you feel. Lately, it seems as though all your friends’ moms have newer, nicer cars than I do.”
I pointed around me. “In fact, sometimes it feels like almost everyone drives a nicer car than I do, and I bet they don’t have to use a chisel to clean the carpet. I cringe every time we open the doors because I’m not sure what will fall out and I’m pretty sure we have an entire family of chipmunks in here somewhere.”
She nodded. “Too true.”
I went on. “But look around us. There are some nicer cars and some older cars. It’s the same with everywhere I look. It’s all about my focus. I can choose to focus on all the people who have nicer things than me, or I can focus on being thankful for what God has given me. I can also be thankful that God has given gifts to His other children.”
In the end, we decided to spend time focusing and thanking God for several of the things He has given us. And we wouldn’t worry so much about what everyone else has.
And then we got some ice cream. And that is definitely something to thank God about….
How do you talk to your children about being thankful?
Keepin it Real (Formerly Chats with an Old Lady.)
The Squashed Bologna: a slice of life in the sandwich generation.
Tracey Eyster–Be the Mom
Lead Your Family Like Jesus
It's real life with Tricia Goyer
Not Quite Amish
MomLife Boot Camp
JenniferDyerBooks
MomLife Today
MoretoBe.com
Power to Change–FamilyLife Canada
I love your daughter’s answer “too true” hilarious. Our car is also frightening, I opened the door the other day and a whole pile of child related litter fell out. Ugh. My boys have not reached this stage yet, not sure if it is age or gender. They just say “I want….” and we say “No” and they are sad. I wonder what will be the first “but he has it” item.
I love the way you used “focus” to bring the topic to our blessings around us. You have so much more insight than I did as a mother.
Thanks for the comments. Kristin, I remember one time when the principal opened my car door and we had an avalanche right in the carpool line. Then my Labrador lunged for the principal. Oye!