Things I am learning, inspired by Sleep is for the Weak

I was inspired by Josie's post today at Sleep is for the Weak.  Do visit her if you haven't already, she writes beautifully and I'm a sucker for good writing (I keep believing it'll rub off on me by osmosis).

Anyway I am taking her theme of 'Things I am learning' for my post today, since I feel I am learning an awful lot about myself lately.  I feel like I am in a kind of new phase.  Things just feel a bit different for me now.  My children are teaching me a lot about myself and my relationship with my husband.

I am learning that face value can be a very good thing.  Don't always expect there to be a hidden meaning in a look, a word, a comment.

I am learning that we are responsible for the lives that we have and we can choose to make them better or worse.  It's bloody difficult sometimes and it feels like sanctimonious bullshit at others, but I truly believe we can be masters of our own destinies.

I am learning about patience.  Not just grin and bear it, grit your teeth and think of England patience, but the patience required for mothering a toddler and a baby.  When one simply cannot see that there is another way other than her own and the other simply cannot accept that she can't move to reach the plastic cup that has just rolled away from her.

I am learning about respect.  That respect for my husband and my children is as important as the love I have for them.  If I treat them with respect we have more harmony in our house.  If I shout and scream, we don't.

I am learning that I need to nurture my friendships.  They need love and attention and I have been bad at that lately.  I have learnt that good friendships are special, and you must take care of them.

I have realised that there are things I simply cannot change.  No matter how hard I try sometimes the dice just roll in the other direction.  (I realise too that this runs counter to point no. 2 but this is my list.  My rules.)

I have learnt that you can love someone with every breath in your body but sometimes you just don't like them very much.  And that's okay.

I have learnt that I crave routine, I need boundaries, I don't like it when things change too much.  I have learnt that I am very much like my toddler.


There, that's it.  What I have learnt recently.

What about you?