Can't Control Everything

No, you can't control everything, but some of us sure do try... Being a husband and a father of four I am constantly in a battle for control. Whether it is my two boys dragging me into their arguments or my three year old telling me "No, I don't want to", with more attitude then should be humanly possible for a person of such a small stature, I am surrounded by a constant tug of war for control. As a middle school teacher, you better believe I am constantly being challenged for control of the classroom. It is apparent that self control is an ongoing challenge for young people... most adults too! So in my quest to maintain control over my life and the lives of people around me, I find that the harder I try the harder it is to keep control. It's like a big blob that I am able to grab, but inevitably, a piece of the blob squeezes out and when I go to grab that piece another piece oozes out somewhere else. So, does that mean we quit trying to direct our lives and the lives of the young people we are responsible for the way we want them to go? No! But I do suggest that you pick your battles and realize that all you can do is focus on the things you have control over. What are some examples in your life? How you do on a test? Your pet dog? How clean your room is? Etc. When the title wave of life is not going your way, find one little thing you can hold onto that is yours that you have control over to get you through storm and in regards to the rest of it, learn to go with the flow and that life is not always about doing what you want to do. And with almost any situation, there is a silver lining, something positive that comes out of a negative situation.