Grateful Heart

     In my home, my husband and I have worked hard to maintain a home that is calm. A major part of maintaining a calm home is to not let tension get high, or linger too long. When a home is in a state of constant high tension, no one can truly feel happy and comfortable. I would like to talk today about what my husband and I do to keep a calm, happy, grateful household.

     First, in our home we don’t sit and stew and hold a grudge. If you have a problem with something someone else did in the home bring it to someone’s attention. Then once it’s out in the open we can find a solution to the problem. Things get talked through. When you learn to deal with issues and talk them out even if it does take a few days to sort through it, they won’t become huge issues that leave a cloud of tension.

     Second, please and thank you are to be used as often as needed. If you need to ask for something, help, a snack, a sippy cup refill, please needs to be included in the question. Mama, will you please refill my cup with juice? And when someone does something kind for you, it will always be reciprocated with a thank you. This simple act is just a small example of just good manners. But, more importantly it’s a small way of showing that you appreciate what people do for you.

    Third, we don’t spoil our kids with loads of toys year round, or other things that just aren’t essential to they’re everyday life. With doing this, days like Christmas and birthdays are even more special and exciting. When they get new things like toys at Christmas they really appreciate it because they don’t get a new toy each week, let alone each month.

    Fourth, in any situation possible we teach them to be grateful and appreciative of anything that calls for that response. When we make them a dinner they appreciate the time and care that went into it. When we take them to the park they don’t stomp and say I don’t want to,  they run and play. They appreciate quality time we give them over the thought of all the quantity items we could give them.

    In any household, if the family can learn to do these simple things it helps keep peace. When everyone in the home feels appreciated and that what they do actually matters to others, they won’t feel the need to fight and cause tension just to feel like they actually matter. Treat people how you would want to be treated and you can live in a home in harmony.

    If we each live with a grateful heart for the people and things in our lives each home can be a happier place.