Mommy drama

I'm When I was a teenager I would dream about growing up and being an adult.

I'd dream about the fantastic marriage I would have to my incredibly hot husband (which is so true!) and the adorable children I would have. How I would have a cute little house where my kids could play, loads of mommy friends where I would have mommy dates and we would do awesome activities together.

Some how drama didn't fit into the picture of my happily ever after.

I think I figured "drama" would be left in high school. 

MAN could I have been more wrong. 

There is still drama, but it's been multiplied times two. The players are stealthier, more experienced and the steaks are higher because it often involves our kids or husbands.

How do we deal with it though?

Unfortunately as long as we are in contact with other people drama will show its ugly face every now and then. 

However there are things we can do though to limit the amount of drama in our lives.

A couple of years ago I was faced exactly with that question. 

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

So I got my bible out and set to work. 

The conclusion I came to is....drum roll 

Have a battle plan! 

Since you can't escape drama you have to have a plan in place for dealing with it. 

Here is my battle plan I came up with. 

1. Look at their heart

Most times drama stems from bitterness, misinformation or hurt. Trying to understand how the other person is feeling can help you get to the root of the problem. Asking the Lord to help you see the WHY in it. Most times they are trying to get something across but don't know how to....result=drama. 

2. Take time to get your emotions under control and pray pray pray

Most of the time when we get involved with drama your first instinct is get angry and fight back. To protect ourselves. I have realized that one of the first things I need to do is step back, get my emotions under control instead of letting them control me. Then pray. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help me to handle it in a God honoring way and to help my anger and hurt. If I am to angry to pray, I go to some one else removed from the situation and get them to pray.

3. Choose your friends carefully

Proverbs 22:24-25 

Do not make friends with a hot tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

Proverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

This is more a pre-battle strategy.First thing I did was go through my friends and ask the difficult questions. Do the people I consider friends line up with what the bible says a friend is? Were my friends people who desired to be in true relationship with me? One where we are honest and encourage,pray and uplift one another? Was our relationship healthy? Do they stick beside me in hard times? These hard questions where asked and I had to come to terms that some of the relationships I had in my life weren't healthy and drama kept popping up with that person and I knew those friendships  had to go. As a mother and a wife my time is limited and precious and I have no choice but to be intentional and picky with my time and where and who I give it to.

And no, that pre-battle stuff is not an easy one.

I believe God created us for true community with others. Where we can be  really honest with each other. When situations arise that could quickly turn into drama we sit down talk it out. Those friendships are worth the time and effort that is so precious to us as busy moms.

Food for thought...

Lastly though and the most important. Be the friend you would want. Be a person who seeks true friendship and practice the qualities daily. Because truth of the matter is you attract like minded people to you!