Liking and Loving Your Child

I love my children.  Yet, lately, I have been feeling like I don't like them at times.  More often than I would like.

If I had never adopted my 3 younger children, I would not LOVE them, but I think I would LIKE them very much.  They are very likeable children.  They have so many good qualities and they are sweet.

But with me, of course, they feel safe enough to show another side of themselves.  And living with that side (multiplied by so many kids) can really beat me down.  Then I find myself focusing on the negative and barely able to see the positive.

So, I would like to see my kids more through the eyes of others and the way I would if I wasn't overwhelmed by behaviors, mess and bad habits.

I honestly do feel that I have control over all of this.  I could set a positive tone and raise my expectations.  Or...I could also decide to let some things go instead of letting them bother me so much.  Yet, I feel like I blame them and rant and rave too much.

I love my kids and they love me.

But I just can't find the right balance.