Expectations

Less than a week ago, I was talking with someone about Abby. I told this person that I learned a long time ago not to set goals for her or to have any kind of expectations, because it only leads to disappointment - every time. You just have to take things as they are handed to you. So I find it ironic that only three days after this conversation, I set myself up for failure and a massive headache because I had set expectations, without even realizing it. All I wanted was a family picture on Easter. Is that really such a ridiculous request? Apparently it is. And I should have known better. Abby hates wearing dresses. I'll say that again. Abby hates wearing dresses. Remember when I thought that it was Abby's wheelchair that was making her so upset when we would get her ready for church? Well, that was a false hope. She just hates wearing dresses. That's when the fights start each Sunday. And Easter was no different. But since I had my mind set so hard on taking a picture (we had coordinating outfits!!), it made the fight that much worse. Why couldn't she just be normal for this one day? Why couldn't she just understand that I wanted her to look pretty? Why couldn't she just DO WHAT I WANTED HER TO DO? Of course, it didn't help that she was sick again. That just irritated me all the more. Why does she have to be sick all the time? She comes down with a cold at least once a month - no exaggeration. Her nose was running and she was drooling nonstop because she couldn't breathe out of her nose. That would ruin the picture for sure. To make a long story short, there was never an opportunity for a picture. And I was very upset about it. Still am. It's vain, I know. Go ahead and judge. But it was important to me. So I spent the whole rest of the day in a very foul mood, and took it out on everyone else at home. Unfortunately, I brought it all on myself. Thinking about it later, I realized that I had set expectations for the day and that's where I went wrong. I knew Abby would throw a fit when I put her dress on. I guess I was just hoping for a miracle or something. All I wanted was a picture. 

Aside from me being Momzilla, the kids had an enjoyable Easter. They woke up to find that the Easter Bunny had left them some surprises.

This was the closest I could get to a real smile....

We got together with Anthony's family for dinner and an egg hunt that evening. Abby did a great job finding eggs. I was the one helping her, and that was just what I needed to get out of my selfish funk. I was so proud of her! She was bending down, squatting, reaching, and grabbing eggs, then placing them in her basket. She did it all so well. It was awesome. (And it was a very functional PT/OT exercise!)

Spencer got a $2 bill in one of his eggs!

Abby, with a mouth full of candy :)

Spencer is OBSESSED with candy. We had a Family Home Evening lesson on Easter last week. I hid eggs around the living room and had the kids find them. Each egg had a different part of the story of Christ's death and resurrection inside. But Spencer was going crazy trying to open them all and eat whatever was inside. Except it wasn't candy. Perhaps I should have let him eat the soap that was in one of the eggs. Maybe then he would have finally understood. I don't even know how he knew there was supposed to be candy inside. But he kept talking about candy, like he was sure he would find some. It was kind of funny. During the real egg hunt I kept seeing him opening his eggs as soon as he would find them. He just couldn't wait until the end! Silly boy.