Yesterday morning, I was feeling especially worried about what's going on in the US and economics. I went so far to write a post about it (thanks for all your responses!)

Well, not long after I wrote that, I was standing there washing dishes, and all the sudden, this feeling came over me that took away all my fears. For no reason whatsoever, I just thought, "How lucky I am to be able to stand here and do the dishes." (No dishwasher by the way! ) I just thought about, despite the financial challenges, how happy I was to be able to stay home with my children and take care of the home.

Then I started thinking about how stressful it'd be in the morning trying to get ready for work in our shoebox-sized bathroom at the same time as dh, how I'd have to drive my daughter to Kindergarten next year, figure out where she'd go after, drive my son to day care, then go to work, pick them up, help with homework, make dinner, get them ready for bed, try to spend time with them, clean, get ready for the next day.....the detailed list of everything just went on and on.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, my fears went away when I remembered to be grateful. This is what my husband and I both want. We worry about money, yes, but if I were to go back to work, it'd just bring new stresses and worries (and for me, heartbreak about not being with my kids all day).

Sometimes, you just gotta take a breath, step back, and look at the whole picture.

You're exactly right. I think sometimes we read and hear so much doom, doom, doom that we can't help but feel fearful. I think it is important to remember that the press is a very powerful tool and their job is to sell the news. And they do that more with bad stories instead of happy stories. Things aren't the best right now and I do see prices rising but, in my world, I do not know anyone actually losing their home. I really don't even know anyone that has been laid off lately -- well actually I do but that was a job performance issue not the economy.

I feel very grateful too. We were blessed with a trailer for 1000 dollars, and we just have lot rent now, instead of the huge rental house payment. My husband has been getting steady work. I love staying home with my kids. Ocassionally I get stressed about the money, but it always works out. I do not miss working at all.

__________________
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies."
-- Groucho Marx

Sometimes I feel it's just not worth it to watch the news. I get paranoid, freaked out, seldomly do they report awesome things that happen...then I retract myself and thank God everyday for my husband, kids, and extended family. I try everyday to look at things in a positive light and remind myself that I'm on mommysavers because I can!

__________________

You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi