Ritual

This was such a powerful article:

http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2009/07/an-18minute-plan-for-managing.html

We haven't had an unusually tough day. In fact, there was one big positive. DD had been having trouble with this one particular boy at some of the events we've attended recently. She was afraid to confront him. We talked it through this morning, and she was able to tell him clearly, the moment she saw him, that she did not want to play with him because he was too rough. They didn't have any difficulties today. She came home feeling great.

Then, she and I had a disagreement over the Carmen San Diego board game that we found at a consignment sale. How many, many times I've wished I hadn't bought that thing. Anyway, I thought I was being fairly calm, but later I found a note she had written, in which she described herself as stupid. Maybe I wasn't so calm after all? Growly bear mama strikes again.

However, what struck me about the above article was the idea of ritual: interrupting your routine at hourly intervals to take stock. Have I really been the parent I want to be during this last hour? Today might have been 50/50. Not bad, but I'll bet I can do better tomorrow.