as a working, single mom

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
as a working, single mom
9
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:06am

sometimes my co workers drive me nuts. I try to maintain a good attitude, for me and for my job. Mostly for my sanity.

This morning 4 people have come grousing past me with various comments like "Is it Friday yet?" and "God I hate this weather"...and the most negative scowling faces. WHY? What good does it do you?

You only have one life, why not smile? I was sick yesterday and am just so GLAD to FEEL normal again.

The weather is cold and rainy, BUT it's hovering above freezing so we don't have the sheet of ice that places north of us do. I'm so GLAD!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:17am

I always got irritated with those types when I was in the corporate world. There are some people, no matter what they have, they will complain.

You sound chipper and positive this morning, Good Morning to you!!

And yes, life is good for us - our kids are fine for the most part and we are fine. Blessed to be working and 6 feet above ground.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:18am
It's cold and rainy here too. My dd woke up with that negative scowling face today. She starts gymnastics today and apparently she thought it was all day *instead* of school. Of course it's not, it's tonight after dinner for 45 minutes. I realized I had just been saying, 'You'll start gymnastics on Tuesday' and I was not clear about the timing... oops! When she learned this she was sooooo upset she decided she was simply not going to school! Ugh. I just encouraged encouraged encouraged and eventually she forgot about faking sick and by the time she was done with breakfast she was happy and ready to go and by the time got to school she was excited and jumping around. I wish I could have that effect on other people :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:22am
Cool! If you can have that affect on your own child, that's the most important life you influence. Sounds like you did a great job this morning, Mom...
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:25am
I feel I must defend the "Is it Friday Yet" question. That will be the inscription on my headstone. I am not a bitter person, and am NEVER in a bad mood at work. I don't bring my personal life to the office. I work in the legal field, and at times (like any job) it can get very "hairy", especially when you have an all important legal document to file in the Court...and you have exactly 5 minutes to complete it and get it to the Court. In one of those times I muttered to my co-workers "Is it Friday yet"? Of course that was to relieve some of the stress of everyone....we all got a laugh. Now the first question of the day on Monday morning is, "Is it Friday Yet"?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:48am
If only it worked all the time :) It's easy to be a good mom when you have a great kid. She has a strong urge to comply and be helpful. Often when she is acting up I can just say "You are not being a good helper and I could really use a good helper right now" and that will do the trick (of course, there are those times where the response I get is something like, "I don't like you right now Mommy!" but it works more often that not). When she was 2 years old she would put herself in time out and say "I'm not ready to listen right now!" After a few minutes she would come back and do whatever she had been told to do because she was "ready." And then there was the time she was sitting in a time out chair and just bawling her head off and through her tears she cried, "I'm not having a very good day am I Mommy?" She is so incredibly cute. Once I picked her up from school (she was probably 3 1/2 at the time) and there was a note from the teacher that my dd had spent most of the day in the 'listening chair' and told her teachers she was "happy" to be sitting there all day. I think they wrote me the note so I would deal with her talking back to them, but it made me laugh so hard. You know, if she just doesn't want to participate in class and she wants to sit in the corner that day, I say let her (maybe I'd feel different if she didn't participate 99% of the time or wasn't frequently praised by her teachers). I can just picture her teacher saying to go sit in the corner and her saying in a defiant tone that she agreed and it was a good idea.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 9:58am

I see your use of it is different, and I am sure I would see it differently from someone who meant it differently.

This "is it friday yet?" was from someone who often says "I hate this place" and has a negative attitude about life in general. You wouldn't want to defend her use of it, most likely.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2002
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 10:05am

Its alot easier to complain than express what you are thankful for and its people like you who can turn that around. :)

It would be so easy to complain...hey even I am guilty. AS you said its a waste of time and energy and what good is it really?

"as a working - single mom" perhaps a post of what wonderful things in life you have would be a fufilling project for some of us...well "as a working mom" so we can fit everyone in (wink)

I know for me...being a working mom...every morning and evening I get the blessings of seeing hearing and enjoying the laughs and stories of my boys. I get to watch and help them grow and learn and achieve their goals. Just yesterday was their first day as their new school and "I" was there to hear and see first hand their reactions. Jacob had a great day and is soooo excited! Made some new freinds already!! Justin well...he didnt have that great of a day...as the kids werent as freindly in his class but today he said "mom Im going to try harder" ....their dad doesnt get to experience that. As to my job - coming everyday is a blessing because I know it provides alot of things for us and we are truly blessed with a new home and I got a huge raise so coming every day I feel thankful for what I have...I can complain about my coworkers who cant even say hello, or dont invite me to lunch ... but I hold my head high-- always say hello and do my job and go home to my boys who always say hello and are happy to see me and those icky 8 hours of negative people disappear.

Hugs to you!!

MB

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 11:37am
I would agree with you. If it came from a person that was always negative, that would be a different situation. I literally sit between two very bitter people. Everything is negative. No matter what, I will not let them suck me in. Life is way too short.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 11:49am

Amen!

way too short.