Expectations

It's a funny thing about expectations - you can never really get them quite right. They're either too high or too low. For example....

Too high
Getting down on the floor to play with my daughter and spend one on one time together. I've been trying to make more individual time for my kids, hoping to reconnect with them after being so busy all summer. Well, today after 5 minutes she has a fit about who is winning the game and doesn't want to play anymore. So I tell her I don't want to play with someone who is being unfriendly and she throws an even bigger fit because she wants me to play with her. Why bother, I ask myself, why bother?

So often my expectations are too high. I try to check them at the door and take things as they come, but often find myself disappointed. I have had endless conversations with my friends about how surprised we are when we're let down AGAIN by someone's actions.

Which makes the times when your expectations are set low and you're overwhelmed by a good experience so great. Again, an example....

Too Low
Last night I went to a spontaneous birthday party of a new friend. She is about 12 years older than me and I didn't know anyone else going to the party so I went with the intention of stopping in to say happy birthday and then going back home to my husband sleeping on the couch watching hockey (another expectation). I ended up having a great time. My face ached from laughing so much as I sat around the kitchen with my friend and her group of girlfriends talking about anything and everything - sex, high school, marriage. I crept back in after midnight, refueled after a new and different girls night out.