Years ago, I had heard about the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal through Oprah.  I really embraced it once I read Janice Kaplan’s book called the Gratitude Diaries about 7 years ago. This book changed me and since then, I have kept a gratitude journal.

What I noticed right away is that keeping a gratitude diary doesn’t just make you feel good at the end of the day, it can change how you experience your whole day.

In her book, Janice talks about how just knowing that you need to write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for, makes your more aware of each part of your day. I am more present in each moment of my day knowing it has the potential to be on my list at the end of the day. It also makes you look for the good in what is happening to me.  This makes everything else seem more manageable. As a parent, this is key!

Gratitude in My Life

I experienced this when I was reading the Gratitude Diaries. I was waiting at the hospital for some tests to be done.  It was a long day with multiple waits in between tests, and it could have been so boring! I could have been annoyed by all these things happening around me that took up my time. Instead, I truly appreciated having nothing else on my agenda other than sitting down read an awesome book, with no guilt.

Gratitude continues to change how I think about my day. Was it a good laugh with a coworker? Did I enjoy dinner with my whole family? Did I laugh with my kids over a game or TV show? Or did I just enjoy a quiet moment with my favorite cup of tea?

Writing down 3 things I am grateful for has taught me to focus on the good things in my life. Even on days that really suck, I can always come up with 3 things I am grateful. On days like that, its ok that one of the three might be that I’m grateful the day is over. 😊

Keeping a gratitude diary has helped me realize the key priorities in my life. When I look back at what makes me happy, it’s clear that they are all centered around three themes: family and friends, adventures outside including traveling abroad, or simply taking an evening walk with no destination.  Knowing what truly makes me happy helps me better focus my days. I know when to take a moment to enjoy. I also know what to let go and not worry about.

Gratitude in My Kids Lives

Because of how gratitude has helped me in my life, I wanted to add it into the nightly bedtime routine with my kids. Each night once they are tucked in bed, they tell me their favorite parts of their day. I said that they had to come up with at least 3 favorite parts. They can have more than 3 if they want, especially if it was an awesome day.

The kids love it. When we first started, they were really young, so we talked about what they had done during the day. This helped them remember all the things they had done during the day. Then, after we finished talking through the day, they then picked their three favorite things.

Since my kids are older now, we don’t need to discuss the whole day. Now, we just say our three favorite parts and we can talk about each part if I wasn’t there for it, so I really understand why it was so great.

I hope that through doing this nightly tradition they learn to focus on the positive and to learn what they love.

How Gratitude Makes You a Better Parent

I learn so much from them sharing these thoughts with me. I learn more details about their day and what makes them happy. The biggest surprise for me though was that I have learned is that a lot of times it is the small things during that day that are the most important to kids.

Sometimes, especially as Mom’s, we feel pressure to make sure we did something fun with the kids each day. Even though we had to do errands, we try to fit in a stop at the playground. I know it makes me feel less guilty if I fit something ‘fun’ around the errands they are doing with me.

What I have found out though from listening to my kids’ favorite parts of the day, is that some of those days that I fit in something ‘fun’, it wasn’t even on their list of favorites.  Their three favorites included things like cuddling with mommy and reading or, having dinner all together. It didn’t include the ’fun’ thing I fit in around the errands.

Learning this has made me a better parent. I don’t feel as much pressure to make sure they do something ‘fun’ each day, but I do know that I need to prioritize spending time together.

Time to eat together, cuddle, and read together. I also have learned that laughing and joking when we are out running errands or doing tasks that just have to get done, teaches them to enjoy themselves doing anything. It is all about their attitude and looking for the positive during the day.

I’d love to hear how you focus on gratitude daily.

If you loved this post, hopefully you will enjoy this one as well: The 20 Most Important Minutes of the Day.