In psychobabble terms, today's post may well reflect the process of "undoing." I'll spare everybody the boring textbook lecture on that psychonalytic construct. Besides, there's not enough room to begin to discuss it. But, I started laughing out loud when I, at first, "thought" that I had suddenly come up with the theme for my next topic: Abrecadabra! Turning bad days into good. I thought this would essentially be a post on the joys of adoptive parenting. Hmm. I smell a rat.

I write for three days straight about some very personal and very intense feelings on the topic of adoption remorse. Right? Then, "out of the blue" I decide (eureka!) I'll post on how terrific it is to be an adoptive parent, even on the bad days. Ooookay.

Nevertheless, regardless of what issues in my subconscious may be driving this behavior, I will honor "my process" and I shall post on my chosen topic. I'm sure it all works together for good in my psyche and in my Soul. For my children, that can only be a good thing.

There are moments in Eternity when I enjoy my children, my husband, my entire family so much that I lose all track of time. I call that process parenting in Eternal time, as opposed to clock time. I can usually bring this experience on at will. All I do is focus intensely in the moment on what is going on with my children, or rather, with us as a family. It is the oddest thing, but, usually when I do that, no matter what is happening at the time, I am able to derive immense joy from it.

I guess the psychology of what I am describing here is simply the process of cognitively framing (or re-framing) any given experience in positive terms. But, I'm always amazed at how efficient that process can be and how it can be activated at will.

There can be times when we are doing something grand and exciting with the kids like running around with total abandon at a swim park and I will deliberately zoom in and take a mental snapshot of the overall experience. That simple act heightens my personal level of enjoyment by about a bazillion percent. And then the fun really begins!

Or, there can be times when we are engaged in the everyday routine of our lives like eating dinner together, cleaning the house, or working in the yard, and I'll do the same thing. I experience a warm-fuzzy rush when I do that and it always spills out and over to the whole brood.

There can be times when my kids are driving me absolutely batty and I will zoom in and focus on the moment. But, this is where it gets weird. When I am in enough control to do that, instead of my emotions intensifying in a negative way, for some strange reason, I experience the opposite effect. I am able to actually draw some joy out of nearly going bonkers! Usually, I'll start laughing and then pretend to exaggerate my "mommy's losing it" persona. My kids will start laughing and giving me a hard time. All of a sudden, there's joy and laughter filling up a space where just moments before frustration and agitation were simmering.

I wish I could say that I parent in Eternal time and pull off these magical feats of transformation quite frequently. I don't. I'm no magician. I'm just a mommy with magical powers. And sometimes. (stage whisper here) I turn myself into...a WITCH! aahhahahahahaha!!!