Dealing with frustration

10 Ways to Deal With Frustration

1. Exercise. Move. Walk. Breathe in. Breathe out. Go down a slide.

2. Work to change the things I can.
3. Accept with peace the things which are out of my control.
4. Be able to tell the difference between numbers 2 & 3!

(This is the Serenity Prayer in a nutshell!)
5. Eat pumpkin ice cream with my friend after school today.
6. Write in my writer’s notebook lists like: The Good in Schools;

I’m Grateful For; Reasons I Love Being an Educator.

7. Hug my husband and kids.
8. Offer encouragement.
9. Wear a cool pair of shoes.
10. Create art."

Ruth Ayres @ twowritingteachers.wordpress.com

frustration. « TWO WRITING TEACHERS

I so admire Ruth and Stacey's website as they write to help people learn more about writing. Ruth gave me permission to share her post about dealing with frustration - with her ideas of "what I can do now," when frustrated.

#1 - Exercise. Move. Walk. Breathe in. Breathe out. Go down a slide.
The above photo that I am sharing today brings back the memories of Al and Simon playing on the playground at Mary Bridge Hospital playground the day after our grandson Henry was born seven weeks premature. What a scary, frustrating time it was. We were all so worried about Henry being okay and wondering what we could do to help. Simon was spending the week with us and Al planned the perfect activity for Simon - the playground! They played while I visited Liz, John and Henry in the Neonatal Nursery, an extensive care area for new born babies.

#2. "Work to change the things I can."

Al worked to keep Simon occupied and happy as all of us felt the strain of uncertainty, not knowing if Henry would be okay. My job was to drive Liz to the hospital every morning to be with Henry. I was thankful to have the opportunity to help in any way that was needed.

Now, two and a half years later the photo below is a perfect example of a now active, happy Henry - crabbing with Grampa Al near Coos Bay.

3. "'Accept with peace the things which are out of my control."

Things were really out of our control when Henry was born seven weeks early. We had just had a family baby shower two days before he was born. I believe that all of us were able to feel some peace created by the wonderful care of the staff and Doctors at Mary Bridge Hospital. The encouragement (#8) that the staff, family and friends offered, helped all of us take one day at a time.

#10 Create art.
When I wasn't helping drive Liz to the hospital to be with Henry in the Neonatal section of the hospital, I found some time to take photos and begin to create a scrapbook page about Henry. I did "Light a Candle of Hope" each day as I prayed for Henry, John and Liz as they lived through this experience of having a premature baby. I am so thankful that Henry is one of millions of premature babies that go on to live normal, productive lives. I am thankful for the advances in modern medicine that makes this possible....and I am thankful for prayer, which I also believe helps deal with the frustration, fear and uncertainty of life.

Photos:

Top Photo: Al & Simon going down a slide at Mary Bridge Hospital playground - 7/18/06

Middle Photo: Henry riding in Al's boat, crabbing at Coos Bay - 9/2/08
Bottom Photo: Scrapbook page - "Light a Candle of Hope"