This morning, I couldn’t help but chuckle at a first grader who toppled a line of bicycles. She was rushing to school, dragging her bike the last few steps before parking it awkwardly in front of the principal’s office. “Come ON!” her mother pleaded, panic in her voice. “The bell just rang!” Their hurried footsteps echoed down the sidewalk in a familiar rhythm. Meanwhile, I was in the final act of my own chaotic morning routine, having just sent my five-year-old son, Leo, into his kindergarten class with mere seconds to spare.
I had just passed the little girl when I heard the crash. In her morning frenzy, she had flung her bike into the neatly aligned colored handlebars and sparkly helmets. They tumbled like dominoes, and the last bike landed right at the feet of a startled dad. I couldn’t help but laugh—not to embarrass her, though I probably annoyed her mom—but because mornings are just plain tough. I can relate, my little ponytailed friend! If I had a bike and a sparkly helmet, I’d probably toss them into the bike rack too, just to express my frustration at a world that moves too fast and expects too much, especially when dealing with five-year-olds who declare, “I just need to stretch a little longer… oh wait, look at this Lego ship!” every single morning. Oh wait, that sounds just like my house.
Each morning, my partner and I engage in a not-so-effective routine battle. “We need a better plan,” I tell him through gritted teeth, tugging Leo’s shirt over his head and steering him to the bathroom for teeth-brushing. We consulted a parenting coach who cheerfully advised, “Find what motivates him.” So we tried sticker charts. Spoiler alert: they don’t work. Five-year-olds couldn’t care less about stickers when they’re determined to extract every last bit of toothpaste from the tube. And the clock? It should be outlawed. Being on time with small humans is like herding cats.
Potty breaks, finding clothes, brushing teeth—there’s always too much toothpaste, water everywhere. Comb hair, “Ouch, that hurts! No, I want it back like this!” PJ’s on the floor instead of the hamper, breakfast battles that end with food everywhere, and then there’s lunch prep (who does that the night before?!). Just one of my kids. It’s a chaotic dance every morning. The kids move like molasses in winter, while I’m the mom yelling like a lunatic at the playground, convinced they’ll fall off the jungle gym. And that’s on the days I don’t even shower or put on makeup.
We’re perpetually out of time and ideas that would impress the glossy parenting magazines. If I had a bike, I’d throw it, but coffee is too precious to waste.
I understand we’re raising our kids to be responsible and aware of their surroundings. There are countless articles on how to do this. This, however, is not one of them.
This is a shout-out to the “Glad You Made It” club. Mornings are tough; they’re rough at my house, and I’m sure they are at yours too. So, to the parking lot attendant who clucks at us to hurry, I’d love for you to greet us differently from now on.
On behalf of all the weary parents out there, please say, “Good morning! I’m glad you made it!”
“I’m glad you made it,” when you see the mom with a damp ponytail wrangling a baby while grasping her kindergartner’s hand. “I’m glad you made it,” when the first grader haphazardly tosses her bike into the rack because mornings are just too much. “I’m glad you made it,” when a bed-headed five-year-old slides into class at 8:34 am. I see you, and I recognize the effort you’re putting in.
We have all the time we need to beat ourselves up about how fleeting time can be. When we tuck our kids in at night, finally calm and still, we count those seconds between breaths and the number of books read before sleep takes over. We count the hours they spend sleeping until it’s time to wake up again, and the years that slip by too quickly.
So let’s not rush. Not yet. Our children will face enough pressure to be quick and efficient later in life. Mornings can be tough, but if I could pause to play with Legos or toss my bike into the rack, I would.
Sometimes, just showing up is a victory. So tomorrow, when your daughter drops her backpack in a puddle and my son stops to pick up every stick on the playground, I’ll share a knowing smile and a laugh with you. We can hustle later; for now, I’m just happy you made it.
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Summary:
Mornings can be a chaotic struggle for parents and kids alike. In a humorous take, the author shares the relatable challenges of getting children ready for school, highlighting the importance of understanding and patience rather than rushing. The piece invites fellow parents to embrace the shared struggle and celebrate simply making it through the morning.