An attitude of gratitude

I confessed something deep and dark once, and it was not so well received by some of the regulars on here. The one person who stood up for me, made me cry with gratitude. I want to thank Sam1023. After she stuck up for me that time, I always paid attention to whatever she had to say, and I liked her. No one shouted out to her and I wanted her to know you never know who you are having an impact on.

DH got laid off and our baby got sick (okay now) With medical bills & everything we used all our savings & were just barely able to stay out of debt, but we ended up 3 months behind on rent. Today instead of the expected eviction notice the landlord gave us a receipt not only for back rent but also for advance payments to November of this year. We said it was a mistake but he said a money order with our name on it was left in his office. We have no idea who brought us this MIRACLE. We hung a sign with the words thank-you in our window but we don’t even have the words to express our gratitude.

I was always empathetic towards others in less fortunate situations. But this last year has made me somewhat callous. Instead of genuine need and gratitude, all I feel like I hear is bitterness, resentment and ME ME ME ME ME. It makes it hard for me to want to help anymore.

My kids are 2.5 and 4. When I drank my worst part of the day was waking up to instant "work" with the kids. Now that I quit drinking a year ago my favorite part of the day is when my kids climb in bed with me when I wake up. I am overjoyed with gratitude for healthy hot meals and warm beds for my healthy children. When they come in my bed in the morning it's to open arms and overflowing love not an angry, depressed mom who dreads the day.

My son (15) called me tonight while I was out visiting with my girlfriends to say thank you to me because I bought him a drink that he likes and put it in the fridge before heading out. Funny how such a small act of gratitude from a teenager can make a mom feel so good.

When ds/3 was a newborn our oldest cat used to sit on my lap while I was holding ds and shove & keep his head under ds's hand... well they have been bff since. Today ds is showing his gratitude by matching him step for step, waiting at the baby gate while the poor guy does his duty or eats then is right on his tail when he runs to another room. The other two cats are probably saying told you so!

I wish I could find a way to show gratitude to my dad. I'm 38wks pregnant and for the last month I've had to go to the doctor twice a week. My dad drives 45 mins to watch my toddler so DH and I can both go to my appointments. He always takes her to lunch and to the park or somewhere fun and never lets me pay him for it. He wont even let me pay for their lunch. Last week I took his car and filled it with gas before they left but when I visited my parents last weekend he left $30 in my car. I'm so thankful for him and saying it just doesn't seem like enough.

If I ever met the person who invented the Magic Eraser I would bow down and preform oral sex on them, male or female, in gratitude.

As a teacher I confess that I like the students who say "please" and "thank you" more than those who don't. It is draining working with kids who don't know how to show gratitude or appreciation. Manners go a long way