Mr. Pessimist Vs. Mr. Optimist

What kind of battle would that be,

Mr. Pessimist Vs. Mr. Optimist?!!!

It is the battle that has been raging inside of me all week!

Rich being gone is always hard, and often it takes a little more work on my side to see the positive.

He leaves and the battle begins!

Situation: My husband is out of town for work.

Mr. Pessimist says, "I HATE this! I am so tired of him leaving for work! I feel like a single parent!"

Mr. Optimist says, "We are lucky that he has a job in these hard economic times, and that it is a good one! This is also his last trip for a long time."

Situation: I walk into the kitchen to notice that Brooke's goldfish is laying on its side at the top of the fish bowl, struggling to breathe. I have to quickly get the fish out and clean the bowl, in hopes of saving the fish.

Mr. Pessimist says, "Why didn't these blasted fish just die a few weeks ago?!! How did they even make it this long! Why in the world did we even let the kids have these? I thought they would make it a week, tops! I wish Rich was here to do this!"

Mr. Optimist says, "It's a good thing you came in the kitchen when you did! You wouldn't have been able to save the fish otherwise."

Situation: You get home from the pool: tired, hungry, and grumpy; you have to feed all the kids, before you can even think about feeding yourself.

Mr. Pessimist says, "I wish these kids could just make themselves lunch; I need a nap, and a break!"

Mr. Optimist says, "At least you were able to go to the pool and have some fun; it also made some of the time Rich is gone go a little faster!"

Situation: Braden runs into the living room exclaiming that his two year old sister just pooped in the bath tub.

Mr. Pessimist says, "So sick! Why as a mother do I have to deal with so much bodily excrement?!!!!! Now I am going to have to not only get Emma cleaned off, but scrub the tub down with Comet before Braden can take a bath!"

Mr. Optimist: "I've got nothing!" (See sometimes I even stump Mr. Optimist!)

Situation: The kids are yet again whining about having to work.

Mr. Pessimist says, "These kids are so ungrateful sometimes! Don't they understand all the work I put in day in and day out?!!!! It's not going to kill them to do their part and be part of the team. Where is that consequence jar of mine?"

Mr. Optimist says, "This is hard, but they will learn valuable life lessons; it will be worth it in the end."

Situation: Brooke is yet again tattling on her brother.

Mr. Pessimist says, "What is this, like the 100th time she has told on him today?!!!! Can't they solve any of their problems without a referee?!"

Mr. Optimist says, "At least she feels like she can come to me when she needs something."

Situation: Overwhelmed with all that needs to be done on a daily basis, and a husband missing in action for a few days.

Mr. Pessimist says, "Why can't I just have five minutes of peace? Why can't I just take a day off?"

Mr. Optimist says, "Be grateful you have been blessed with your beautiful children. One day you will miss this time you have with them!"

Situation: Mr. Pessimist finally reaches his limit, no longer able to handle Mr. Optimist's incessant cheerful utterances, he pushes him off a very steep cliff!

Mr. Pessimist says, "Oops, did I do that?"