This Monday I felt like I had a productive morning. My allergy problem (or respiratory virus) didn't bother me much. I was able to get through some simple and effective prayers without much distraction.

I found us having to rush to get the kids off to school and my wife was very sick. It occurred to me that if I could get up a little earlier then she wouldn't have to get up to help. I planned to stay busy and avoid a nap so that I would get to sleep on time. For the past week I have been falling asleep and then waking up and staying up losing sleep.

For some reason I had one of those mornings where I was able to bring to mind everything that I need to do and make a good task list. I spent all day getting them done. I was busy all day, accomplished a good deal, and never took a nap.

My wife was also very busy today. She was also very sick with her allergy problem (or respiratory virus). By the end of the day she was barely functional and very short tempered with the kids. I opted not to go to a meeting and stay home to help her with the kids instead.

In the evening the last thing that happened was that I fell asleep with my youngest son. I woke up and staggered to my bed. Just as I was dozing off again my wife requested some hot tea. I didn't comply right away and she got very angry and accused me of not caring for her when she is sick. She got up before I had a chance to and made it herself. I felt very selfish for a moment but then considered that her request was demanding and she didn't at least consider that I was trying to get to sleep on time. She also didn't give me a chance to change my attitude just like she does with the kids. She is sick because she doesn't set limits  that help her get enough sleep and she stresses herself with the people who don't meet her demands and live up to her expectations.

I still felt selfish but also thought back to how this is probably the natural impulse of all people but that with a moment or two of thought we can overcome this. But, we (I) need a moment sometimes.

I was grateful for the time I got to spend running errands by myself after two weeks with kids every day.

We had some really good times today putting away Christmas stuff, and joking with my son about his brain.

My son made me grateful for my wife when he told me unprompted today that he was really happy to be in a family that gets along. He said he sees other families split apart from divorce and he was glad he didn't have to go through that.

Thanks be to God for this day.