Did you know today is don’t cry over spilled milk day? Who knew it was a thing? For me, nothing can cause me more anger, frustration, and anxiety than losing something. Pair that with a toddler who likes to hide things.

Ooooh, yeah. I’ve been practicing a lot of calming techniques lately.

I’m currently writing this at 3 a.m. because I woke up suddenly, eyes wide when I realized the garbage man was coming today. Now, keep in mind my toddler hid his sister’s shoes several days prior and I’ve torn the house apart trying to find them. I even looked in the outside garbage can because I thought the shoes may have made their way into the trash. Even then, I was afraid I might have missed spotting them in there.

It was now or never.

I had to find those shoes.

So there I was, sneaking around just before 3 a.m. trying to find those blasted shoes that I’ve failed to find thus far. I started to get creative and checked inside the fridge, inside cereal boxes, inside my boots. Nothing.

Next, I scanned the bookshelf, and I noticed the books from a children’s series that usually rested inside one box lay scattered about. I picked up the box, and it rattled. I nearly put it back without looking inside because I assumed it was a lone book tipping back and forth within.

I decided to open the box, and…

There were the shoes.

Hallelujah! I can go to bed worry free.

Sure, losing things is incredibly frustrating, but life’s too short to cry over it. Now I just have to remember that the next time my toddler hides his stuffed animal monkey he can never sleep without…