Fish out of Water

This morning the family cat, named Cookie, discovered where we had relocated our beta fish, not a good way to start the day. My eldest really wants a dog, (I do not therefore we are not getting one), settled on Saturday with the idea of keeping the fish. Sure, I bet the cat will spend less time on top of the piano now.

So as I transferred the fish to a fresh small glass container, she carefully added the colored stones, shells and a sizeable faux diamond. Down to the computer she went and printed off a sea background and named the fish “Bubbles”. Despite the beta diet of a small pinch of flakes every couple days she found the move must have gotten his appetite going so even without the cat she may feed him to death instead.

Everyone was moving slower than normal this morning, and with heavy feet my eldest was off to her room to get dressed for the day. Shrieks, screams and a waterfall of tears followed moments after she left the kitchen as the cat had managed to dump the fish out of its new home and onto her bed.

I ran to the room to find her freaking out and the fish laying on the bed. She began to holler how she hated the cat and how we should get rid of the cat for killing the fish. Off to the kitchen to get another container with water so I could scoop the fish up and see if it was still alive. Sure enough it was. But my daughter wanted the cat to HANG!

Fish happy to be back in water, she continued the scene as I began to strip the bed and clean up the mess.

“I Hate Cookie!, Don’t you Hate Cookie for killing the fish?”

“Well the fish isn’t dead its just fine, it is certainly shocked, but its alive and well in the bowl.”

“I Hate the Cat, I never want to see the cat again!”

I shared with her that, “No I didn’t hate the cat, (not its biggest fan at the present moment), but I did hate that the cat created this mess.” She stopped for a moment. And before she could continue on her rage and keep her focus on the fact that the cat had murdered the fish, despite the obvious evidence to the contrary I repeated what I said.

This isn’t a Looney Tunes cartoon episode where the cat is the villain and actively is conniving ways to capture a bird, or in this case a fish. Yes I’m not at all impressed that the cat didn’t just go into the bedroom and sleep the day away as she normally does. I’m not at all pleased that I have to strip the bed, get a fan, mop up the mattress, I’ve got lunches half made, kids need to brush teeth and put socks on, bags need checking and double checking yada yada…you see where this is going. But amid the chaos I still didn’t hate the cat.

Hmmm…There is a fundamental difference being hating someone/something versus hating what that someone/something has done. The grace is being to see that grey area or fine line in order to divide the emotion.

In that moment I saw the grey, and that line helped to split the overriding emotions around the situation and that of my daughters’.

Its easy to get caught up in the moment and emotion. How many times have you been able to look back at a time, moment or person/place/situation and see the grey well after the fact. The grey is always there but it just takes us to be present and look for it so we can move through with grace.

Phew! Good Recover and an even better Present!

Namaste!

"Hurray!"

If you haven’t already seen these commercials promoting being power smart they are brilliant! Here are the links from You Tube: BC Hydro: Lights Off; BC Hydro: Cell Phone; BC Hydro: Laptop .

All of the commercials are focused around being Power smart, shutting off lights; unplugging the cell phone charger and laptop cord. When the person in the commercial does this there is a group of people who are dressed “football fan” style and they cheer, hoot, holler, & high five when the lights are turned off and or cord unplugged. Not only does the person in the commercial have a cheering squad for doing well for the environment but they get cheered for doing something so commonplace.

Imagine doing what you do and having someone giving you a big “Hurray!” for doing things like:
· Folding the laundry & buying the groceries
· Finding that illusive mate to a sock
· Fill in your own blank

In the course of the day the novelty of having a squad "Hurray-ing" you at every turn would undoubtedly wear off rather quickly. And as my points are directed to the Mom Job description there are more times than not when what you do is taken for granted.

I’ve got a “rental” child for 3 weeks. Friends went off to Africa and without hesitation I agreed many months ago to take their 9 year old daughter. My eldest and her are in the same class, are friends in and out of school; and my youngest is thrilled to have another “big sister”.

This has all been very exciting getting our home ready to receive her. Moving things in and around; creating a space for her and her things; creating space in our schedules to accommodate her commitments; buying groceries after getting the low down on her likes and dislikes and generally preparing for her to blend into our ecosystem with as few bumps as possible.
Even though she has only been here since Monday I have to say she’s adapted quite nicely and I must say I’m lovin’ the fanfare, sans the football gear.

Yes, the compliments have been flying about the French Toast at breakfast, last night’s spaghetti supper was a big hit and I enlisted them to make an apple crisp that she has absolutely fawned over. Even telling me again this morning how good it was and couldn’t wait to have another helping after school.

Wow is all I can say. I haven’t changed anything that I normally do, well okay I’ve made a couple desserts in the last week that has had my own family wondering what’s going on with me, but as a general rule I’m not Food TV-ing it just the same ole same ole.

However, I must admit that the compliments are working for me. They have reminded me that sometimes doing what you do may feel at times routine and therefore not “Hurray” worthy but when someone does acknowledge what you too may take for granted it certainly shifts the energy, your own and that of the ecosystem.

So here is my “Hurray” to receiving gratitude; and my intention is to pay it forward! May you choose to do the same!

So from Me to You...“Hurray! Whoo Hoo! Great Job! High Five! Thanks!"