MGI

 "You are measuring life by the number of bumps in the road. That's not an accurate measurement by any means." (Story of My Life)

Peanut spent this last week serving as a Leader In Training (LIT) for Camp Invention. This was an incredible opportunity for her. I saw her lean into this challenge with grace and perseverance.

Logistically this week looked a lot different for us than a "normal" week. Each day we had to be up and out of the house early. With a themed outfit, lunch, snack, water bottle, all the things.

Peanut was away from home 7 plus hours a day.

For many of you, that is totally your norm. But it's not ours.

Mid week I picked her up and she made it to the car before full meltdown mode ensued. Oh the crying. With no audible reason.

I should preface this story by sharing that Peanut and I had already gotten off to a rough start this week.

12 is the year of the Jekyll and Hyde. Some moments there is playing with toys, being silly, and sweet snuggles. Other moments there is snarkiness, dramatic sighs and audible grunts of displeasure. 12 is the "between" stage. Somewhere between being a little kid and a teenager. Between.

Relationships involve two people and so while Peanut was at camp each day I devoured Parenting Teens podcasts looking for new tools for my toolbox.

One of the tools I gathered this week was the challenge to choose to make the "Most Generous Interpretation" of the other person. When in a challenge, PAUSE and think "what is the most generous explanation for the behavior?"

And choose to believe that.

I looked at Peanut, in full meltdown mode, and thought...........Peanut is tired. These are full days combined with late summer nights. Peanut is hungry. She's going through a growth spurt and isn't used to eating on someone else's schedule. Peanut is 12. It's hard to be 12.

The most generous interpretation of the moment was that Peanut is a good kid having a hard time. She needed to restore her norm- a hug, a snack, a rest.

Peanut needed help figuring out how to regulate her big emotions.

I've been thinking this week how I need to work on choosing to make the most generous interpretation in all my relationships.

What would happen if I reframed my negative interactions around making the most generous interpretation?

Maybe the older woman who I feel is assertive and talks too much would be seen through the light of needing to feel useful, trying to find her space in a new season of life.

Maybe the coffee shop employee who isn't giving "pleasure to serve you vibes" is having a bad morning - maybe they too are a good kid having a hard time.

There's space and grace for the most generous interpretation.

Mama Warriors, I think we as a society take way too many things personal.

I don't think the car who cuts you off in traffic is out to get YOU.

I don't think the employee who is rude hates YOU.

I don't think your kid lashing out at you has anything to do with YOU.

But we react like everything is about us.

We are a community who has forgotten we are a community. We don't make the most generous interpretations for the world around us.

But we want them to make it for us right?

Maybe this week we PAUSE for a moment and challenge ourselves - what's the most generous interpretation for this moment? What story offers the other person the most grace and space?

I think we'd find that's what Jesus would do..........