Being Content With What You Have (or The Day My Daughter Taught ME a Lesson)

I only have a handful of readers and I think we're all Facebook friends, so I'm pretty sure you've heard the story. BUT-- just in case. I took my sweet 11 year old on a little shopping trip yesterday. She has been helping me do prep work for my classroom and we needed bulletin board border and a few other things. I told her ahead of time that she could pick out a few things for school while we were at a larger and nicer WM. I'm thinking a binder, some spiral notebooks, pens...she's thinking locker accessories.

 Now, if you do not have a middle school aged girl, you may be surprised to hear that accessorizing your locker is a big deal. A really. Big. Deal. In the blink of an eye, she gathered up an armful of school supplies...a bedazzled pencil holder, a zebra print mirror, a pink shag locker rug, and a white chandelier. After some discussion, we limited her locker accessories to the pencil holder and a mirror. She was fine with that and we enjoyed the rest of our afternoon, but I started thinking. "Where does she get that? Since when do kids need a chandelier in their locker? Who does she think she is?" And then I remembered this.

I have the most horrible case of bathroom envy ever. And this is only one of them. I am a bathtub crazed freak. And the chandelier...yeah, I love that too. We live in a home provided for us and it has three two presently working bathrooms. The plumber is on his way, but that's another story. Bottom line-- I'm not content. I look at pictures of bathrooms like my daughter looks at blingy locker accessories. Always have. I'm obsessed. When we had our little discussion and redirection time yesterday, she never once whined or complained. But guess what? I do. ALL the time. Earlier this summer I did some organization/cleaning in my kitchen...which led me to replace three small appliances (in the correct color)...which led me to adding a couple of new accessories...which has led me to loathe our countertops. You know, the old "painting one room" and how it leads to totally redecorating? I have inwardly (and sometimes outwardly) grumbled about things all summer. I have a roof over my head and enough bathrooms for 75% of my family to use all at the same time...but I want THAT bathroom. Being content. Not my strength.

I've tried to teach my children to be grateful. And I don't think I've failed completely. But my, oh my, do I have a lot to learn myself. By the way, I definitely think that bathroom above could use a splash of color. I think Caleigh needs to lend a hand!