"I Have To" Versus "I Get To"

I took this photo yesterday at about 8:30 a.m. I did not sleep well the night before. I got up at 4:15 a.m. to make Lisa's lunch and a hot breakfast. I was a bit pissy. Our local weather channel already had us on an Early Warning Weather Alert. Severe storms through the afternoon and evening hours. The humidity and dew points were already high. The kids didn't settle down for their morning nap like they usually do. They sensed bad weather approaching.

After Lisa left for work, I began the process of making homemade treats for our kids. Lots of them. Our stock o' treats in the freezer was running low.

I'll be honest, I was not in the mood to bake homemade dog treats.

I was not in the mood to work on blog columns or anything else in the Bodacious DIY Dog Mom Project Workshop.

I was not in the mood to do housework.

I was not in the mood to prep dinner.

Basically, my attitude sucked all the way around.

"I have to bake homemade dog treats."

"I have to do housework."

"I had to get up at 4:15 in the morning to make breakfast and lunch for Lisa."

Blah. Blah. Blah.

While sipping my second cup of coffee, I scrolled through my social media streams.

I'm fairly certain the Universe did a little shimmy shake during that time.

Someone I personally know had posted a lengthy inspirational quote. I'm not usually fond of those, but this one caught my attention.

The gist of this quote was about adjusting your attitude.

Too many people jade their mind frame by saying, "I have to..."

For example...

"I have to go to work."

"I have to work overtime."

"I have to make dinner." 

"I have to do laundry."

"I have to mow the lawn."

This inspirational piece encouraged people to shift their perspective a bit.

Drop the, "I have to..."

Replace it with, "I get to..."

See what happens.

I know it sounds corny, but I sat back in the chair and thought about this for a bit. Then, I took it a step further. I sat up straight and revised my original attitude towards things.

"I have get to make homemade dog treats."

"I have get to wake up early in the morning to make Lisa a hot breakfast and pack her lunch."

"I have get to do housework."

"I have get to prep and make dinner for my family."

No. Confetti didn't fall from the ceiling nor did rays of sunlight burst through the windows.

But.

My attitude changed.

Sure, being a Work at Home Dog Mom is busy and chaotic and my schedule usually changes daily. I don't get enough sleep. Getting up at 4:15 in the morning sucks. Having to break from work stuff to prep dinner or do dishes irritates me most days. At times, I feel isolated and left out.

But.

I love being a Work at Home Dog Mom. This is our life. This is what we chose. We have no regrets. Some days, Lisa gets out of work at a reasonable time. Sometimes, she gets home late.

This is it. Right here.

We have a home that we love. Lisa has a great job that she's been at for over 17 years. We have food in the fridge and cupboards. Our kids get homemade meals and fresh-made dog treats every single day. Lisa starts her day with a hot breakfast. Her lunch bag is packed with delicious foods and snacks. She

By the time I finished my second cup of coffee, my attitude had completely changed.

I got up. Stretched. Inhaled. Exhaled.

A couple of hours later, our freezer was stocked with a fresh batch of homemade dog treats.

Face forward. Onward march.