My four-year-old came rushing out of his room, sporting a shirt smeared with toothpaste and shoes on the wrong feet. My youngest scurried after him, his hair and shirt damp.
“What happened?” I inquired, my patience already wearing thin as we were running late. A knot twisted in my stomach. “What did you do?” I was frustrated.
Oblivious to my irritation, my son exclaimed, “I went potty, got dressed, and brushed my teeth!” He bounced with pure joy.
Wait a minute! He had dressed himself, brushed his teeth, and used the potty—all without any nudging from me. This was the very moment I had been hoping for… a milestone I had long awaited. This was a wonderful development.
Breathe, I reminded myself (not talking to a dog, but rather to myself). I needed to regain my composure and fast. Then I recalled a friend’s recent post:
“My daughter Emma came to me, full of excitement, only to accidentally snap a brand-new crayon in half. ‘Emma!’ I said, ‘Why would you do that?!’ She looked at me, her eyes wide, the initial joy replaced by tears as she sobbed, ‘I just wanted to show you how strong I was!’”
Emma’s crayon incident—hadn’t I learned something from it?
My son wasn’t purposely making us late; he was being independent, even styling his little brother’s hair, which explained the dampness.
Breathe, I thought again. My stomach began to unclench.
His shoes could easily be switched, and honestly, his shirt would see plenty of action throughout the day. This was not a catastrophe; it was a good day.
Truth be told, we weren’t running late because of him. We were late because I have three little ones and didn’t wake up early enough. We were late because I was busy preparing water bottles and lunches. Life happens—sometimes things just go awry.
And just as I finished that thought, life threw another curveball. My youngest squatted, turning red as he grunted.
Now we were really late.
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In summary, even chaotic mornings can lead to valuable lessons about independence and perspective. It’s important to remember that what seems like a hassle can actually be a sign of growth and achievement.