How To Get Exactly What You Want

Ahhh, a question for the ages...

How do you get what you want?

Well I'm here to tell you!  But, first of all-

this does not apply to 'world peace'... 'a cure for cancer'... 'to end homelessness'... 'I want a pony'... well, maybe the last one.

All those 'wants' are great.  I want world peace too.  I want a cancer-free world too.  I want everyone to have a home too...

But we all gotta start somewhere... 'Start Small- End Big', I always say.  So let's master how to get exactly what we want in terms of the 'small stuff', then we can go from there.  After all, if you have little things... and little ones, around you that make you happy- you're going to be a better mom and person and you'll be happier...

Happier?  A Better Person, you may say?  Yes.  And here's how to do it-

I am revealing an age-old philosophy... a formula... a system of beliefs, if you will.

Have you read The Secret?  Yes, so have I...

Well, ladies, this has nothing to do with The Secret.  Forget The Secret.  This has everything to do with being a mom, and having 'Practical Expectations'.  And helping others, help you... even with your Mother's Day present. 

A little backstory: I love purses and bags (they never have to be altered or hemmed!) and I'm very particular about bags and purses that I buy; they have to meet certain criteria... So I've been looking for a Shoulder Bag, with an open top, that's creme or khaki and durable, for summer.

I found the bag I wanted online.  I knew, even with a picture, my husband and son would not be able to shop around, find the right bag, wrap it, and present it to me for Mother's Day.  I love them and life would be a bummer, and boring, without them, but come on- they're not superheroes! 

So I went online, bought it for myself and said nothing.  Then when it arrived on my doorstep (free shipping- yey!), I unwrapped it, looked at it, smiled, hugged it a little, and took a deep breath.  

I proceeded to wrap it up in tissue paper, and then wrapping paper... and I left it in the dining room.

When my husband came home from work (my son had not noticed the big package in the dining room) and they were both seated in the living room, I went and picked up my self-gift-wrapped present, went into the living room and announced with a smile on my face,

"What is this?  Did you guys get me a surprise Mother's Day gift??!!

My husband grinned and said,

"I guess we did."  He knows me pretty well.

My son was thrilled, and thought that Dad had surprised me... He's 6.  I then explained to him what I had done and I said to him, I knew you guys wouldn't have time to find it for me... and it's exactly what I want!"

My son laughed and then thanked me for doing 'his' shopping for him... And everyone is happy, and everybody wins...

So to get exactly what you want- don't drop hints, don't give instructions, don't cross-your-fingers and really, really visualize and hope for it... Just do it yourself.  And be happy!  We're Moms, after all... we're used to problem-solving, figuring out solutions, gift giving, and making holidays special...

I'm starting to think about what my Special-Surprise-Christmas-Present is going to be!

Original DC Metro Moms Post

When Nicole isn't giving herself gifts (which is A LOT of the time), she's at BananaBlueberry, or giving out HouseHold Tips at her HouseHold Tips Blog.