What Would Michelle Duggar Do?

Today has been one of those days. Beatrice woke up several times during the night looking for her paci. Needless to say, 7am came early and I was cranky. Beatrice was whiney all day and being exhausted, I had a short fuse. Taking care of a 6 month old while JD is away is tough enough, but throw in endless fussiness and a tired mama and you've got a recipe for a meltdown.

It's days like this that I ask myself, "what would Michelle Duggar do?"

I love Michelle Duggar (of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting"). Not only is she a mother of 19 (yowzers), she home schools them all and maintains her home seamlessly and orderly. She has such a sweet spirit and gentleness about her. Even when one of her brood is bouncing off of a couch or hanging from a chandelier, she calming corrects them with her "children, please don't do that." And they listen.

I find myself asking "what would Michelle Duggar do" quite often. When I am on the verge of losing my temper when Beatrice won't nurse and the cat has shoveled kitty litter all over the freshly vacuumed floor, I ask "what would Michelle Duggar do?" When I burn the garlic toast and end up eating a cold dinner because Beatrice pooped on the couch, I think of Michelle. When I am forced to change clothes for the 3rd time in 3 hours because I am covered in barf, Michelle is on my mind.

Since I have a strong tendency to freak out, she is my meltdown barometer. If I find myself in a situation where I want to lose it, I take a few moments to breathe and choose another way to react. Because whatever crisis I may encounter, Michelle does too times 19. And she keeps her cool while getting through it.

So today while my baby fussed and cried, I did not. I vacuumed cat litter twice and ate a cold dinner with a positive attitude. Tomorrow is a new day and I'm sure there will be another batch of crises, but I will keep my cool and think of Michelle.