I often long for mornings filled with the sweet sounds of chirping birds and gentle sunlight breaking through the curtains. I dream of having enough time to prepare my kids a wholesome breakfast and enjoy it with them, draped in a lovely silk robe as we share bowls of fresh fruit and granola while sipping herbal tea.
I’d give just about anything to get my children ready for school without feeling like I’ve just sprinted a marathon.
The reality is that the morning routine at my house is a daily battle that tests my sanity, regardless of how meticulously I plan the night before. Even when I have their lunches neatly packed and organized from oldest to youngest, there’s always a hiccup. Someone will inevitably wave a forgotten permission slip in my face, demanding my signature while I attempt to apply mascara.
If I manage to get all the paperwork squared away and tucked into the right pockets of their binders, my daughter will suddenly declare that she can only wear the one pair of jeans that are still dirty because “OMG, Mom, nothing else goes with these shoes.” Cue the meltdown.
And just when I think we’re in the clear, my youngest lets the dog outside, leading to chaos as the dog bolts down the street and into the neighbor’s trash. My oldest is frustrated because his hair won’t cooperate, and I’m left staring at the calendar, which reminds me I was supposed to send two dozen cupcakes for the school read-a-thon—except, of course, I don’t have a single cupcake in sight.
Every morning feels like an uphill struggle, no matter how prepared I think I am. My disheveled appearance, with only one eye properly made up, is typically the last thing my kids see before they head out the door. My rushed “I love you. Have a great day, and please let’s try to do better tomorrow” is often the final message they hear. As they walk away, I can’t help but roll down the window for one last, heartfelt “I love you so much.” My children mean the world to me, and the guilt that washes over me as they walk away after a hectic morning can be overwhelming, sometimes even bringing me to tears over my half-eaten toast.
I worry that my frantic start sets a negative tone for their day, much like it does for mine. I find myself pondering ways to improve our mornings, to be more organized, and to send them off to school without resorting to threats about their devices or after-school treats. I eagerly await their return, hoping to make amends and alleviate my guilt.
When they come home, I greet them with hugs and ask about their day, often ending up giving them an extra cookie as a guilt-induced treat. But then the chaos resumes. They start bickering, or suddenly become unable to help with dinner or put away their laundry. Shoes are left strewn across the floor, and I trip over them. The dog, neglected after multiple reminders, has an accident inside.
Before I know it, I’ve lost my cool again, because parenting feels like an endless, exhausting journey. Kids require constant reminders to complete the simplest tasks and are blissfully unaware of the guilt their mothers carry when things don’t go as planned.
I know this because, during dinner, when I ask them about their favorite parts of the day, they often respond with something like, “When you tripped over my shoes,” or “When I waved the permission slip so close to your face that it stuck to your lip gloss.” The entire family erupts in laughter.
When I apologize for seeming stressed in the mornings and express my desire to get things under control, my kids look at me blankly. My oldest will say, “You were stressed?” with genuine disbelief.
To me, I feel like I’m setting a crucial tone for their day and worrying that I’m jeopardizing their education and emotional well-being by not providing a serene breakfast experience wrapped in silk while we listen to the birds. But to them, I’m simply a source of entertainment—and the truth is, they still love me, mess and all.
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Summary:
Mornings can be chaotic and stressful for parents, filled with unexpected challenges that lead to feelings of guilt. Despite the rush and chaos, children often find humor in the situation, and parents worry about setting the right tone for their day. Ultimately, the love between parent and child remains strong even amidst the morning madness.