Lessons Learned from a Toddler

*Note: This posting orginially appeared in another blog I write for (The Domestic Diva Daily at http://luv2write78.pnn.com/11411-the-front-page ) in July 2009.  The frustration and weariness that I experienced back then when searching for a job, remains applicable to my life situation today.  My husband and I are daily searching for full-time work and we have yet to find something but God has been faithful and enabled my husband and I both to acquire part-time jobs whereby we are able to pay the bills and meet the needs of our family.  However, it still can be discouraging at times when applying for so many full-time positions and hearing only negative responses.  Re-reading this older post reminded me of the lesson my toddler taught me last summer and brought some encouragement my way today - may it do the same for you! :)


This whole economy thing has been getting me down lately. The past 8 months my husband and I have both continously filled out job applications and have consistently received letters of "although you are more than qualified for this position, you are not the best qualified." It's been a constant socking to my stomach every time a rejection letter arrives in the mail or my email inbox. How long can this possibly go on? My husband and I both graduated with either graduate degrees or post-graduate degrees in December 2008 and yet no one wants to hire us. So, I've been a bit down lately.

The other morning, I was once again searching the internet for job postings in my area when I heard my 16 month old coming through the kitchen towards my office. Her feet thudded the floor with every step she took. She's been walking about 2 months now and yet she still wavers, falters at times when she walks - especially when she is excited. I stopped my job search for awhile to watch her meander throughout the house. Most of the time she made it successfully to her destination, however on other occasions, she fell to the hardwood floor with a loud thud. Upon her unsuccessful attempts of walking, she would scrunch up her face and begin to whine a little and then she would stop. She didn't waste much time on whining, but rather she pulled herself back up and proceeded to go towards whatever item for which she was searching.

As I sat watching her and thinking about my own attempts to find a job, I realized that maybe I've been whining too much in the situation I find myself in - no job for me, no job for hubby. Seeing my 16 month old pull herself up time and time again, no matter how many times she had fallen, brough an epiphany to me: stand up, girl! Dust your feet off! Stop whining about your jobless situation and just keep filling out those applications. One of them is bound to come back with a positive response, or at least an interview!

So, here I sit searching for jobs, like I do every day, and I have a bit more bounce in my step, a sunnier disposition for my current situation. I am qualified to do my job in the field of education, there will be a job coming my way, but I can't dwell on all the rejection notices but rather I just need to pull myself up and model the persistency of my almost-toddler girl. It's a new day, maybe today is my day to secure a job! No time to whine here - especially since I do have little ones watching how I respond to defeat. Thank you, Daphne, for the lesson you've taught Mommy.  I am forever grateful! :-)

New Family Friend

For the past six weeks, every Friday I have climbed into the van, buckled a child in a seat, and driven down the road toward the same destination.  It has become rather monotonous but it is a necessary trip.  If I had some nosy neighbor, she might wonder why my 12 passenger van can be seen leaving roughly at the same time each Friday morning headed west and returning a couple hours later.  She may also wonder where my final destination is and may even try to follow me one Friday morning.

If my husband were an insanely jealous man, he may think that I have a desire to be at my destination each Friday morning because I am attracted to the person that my child and I am seeing.  Thus, rather than making appointments in as few trips as possible, he would think that I am intentionally dragging them out over a six-week period so I can see this person.  And if my children were foolish, they would think that Mommy is driving to the same destination every week because she thinks it is a lot fun and since her week must be boring, this place must be how she can end the week on a entertainment-high.

Hah!  Puhlease!!!  All of the above is ficticious save my routine Friday visits!  The trip I take each Friday morning is to the family doctor and I feel confident I can drive the route blind-folded by now.  I wish the doctor could see more than one child at a time but sadly, and a huge disappointment to me, he can only take care of one child during a visit.  This doesn't mean I only take one child per visit because infant brother must come along since Daddy can't nurse him!  It is a good thing that I like this doctor and his nurse because I would be highly irritated to waste all this time and gas money for wellness appointments six weeks in a row.  But, the good thing is that all children are healthy and no more visits for at least 5 weeks when once again I will make the trip for infant boy's 4 month check-up.

Ah, the life of having so many children who need to see the doc.  He is definitely our newest family friend...did I mention my husband got to make the trip last Friday too?  Was it because Daddy needed to introduce himself to the man I have seen every Friday morning for the past six weeks?  Nah, Daddy is not that silly!  He needed his physical too!  So, Doc has met the entire family and we're all healthy!  Well, wait, Mommy needs to go too...uh, sorry!  I think I'm just fine :)