Am I excusably late? Absolutely. Let me tell you why.
It’s not because I spent an eternity perfecting my makeup (seriously, it’s two minutes, tops) or fussing over my hair (which, let’s be real, I don’t do). And no, it’s definitely not due to folding laundry.
This morning, I found myself running late—yet again—because I simply could not tear myself away from my daughter and the fantastically imaginative skit we were performing on the living room floor. In our little world, Gramps (the dog in a tutu and sparkly heels) was taking a group of cranky princesses, Zurg from Toy Story, and a few playful fairies on a train trip to the zoo we had just constructed. Naturally, the zoo was undergoing a sudden renovation to create an animal shelter wing and a tower for the princesses and their wicked stepmothers.
I’m late because I whipped up some delicious homemade chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast—again. I’m late because I couldn’t bring myself to make my daughter change out of her beloved princess attire just moments after she excitedly donned it, complete with a tiara and a wand that she had gleefully tapped on my head.
Childhood is fleeting, a reality that weighs heavily on me as a highly sensitive person. I remind myself of this constantly and often find myself welling up over how quickly my little ones are growing. Those pencil marks on the pantry door keep climbing higher, month by month, and I know that moments like these are precious and irreplaceable.
So, I choose to savor every second, to embrace each moment without worrying about the clock. Yes, I understand that this may sound absurd coming from a working mother who ought to be at her desk, ready to dive into work by 9 a.m. But I’m just so tired of the constant rush.
I don’t want to push my kids through their mornings. I want them to sprawl out on the floor, allowing their imaginations to run wild as they set up their scenes and characters. When my daughter asks if she can paint or bring out the glitter glue at 7:30 a.m. (with her hair a mess and teeth not yet brushed), I want to say yes.
Can we build a glittering volcano? Yes! How about baking cupcakes with purple frosting? Yes! Let’s create a fairy garden outside? Yes! Dance around in our pajamas to Johnny Cash? Absolutely!
I want to be a “Mom of Yes,” rather than the “Mom of No” who rushes around like a whirlwind. I often find myself feeling like a frantic tour guide, herding my kids through the morning routine: potty, hair, clothes, shoes, coats, and the long list of items we need to grab before heading out the door.
Check, check, check… and yet, I still end up late. It’s exhausting. I’m tired of feeling like our mornings are a chaotic circus act, filled with checklists that never seem to end. No matter how organized I try to be, I still misplace my keys or find leftover snacks in the car.
I get stressed out, speeding through school zones and running yellow lights, all while juggling two kids in the backseat. And don’t even get me started on dinner time—it’s a mad dash to prepare meals, bathe the kids, and get them to bed, all while dreaming of the days before parenthood when I could enjoy cooking with a glass of wine in hand.
Honestly, I sometimes find myself in a rush out the door, using the last bit of toilet paper and forgetting to replace it because of time constraints. It’s ridiculous how starved for time I am.
I constantly feel guilty for not being able to give my full attention to my children. I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom, someone who doesn’t have to rush from one task to another, who has time to engage with the little moments. But for now, I will embrace being late.
Excusably late.
Pardon me. I’m just a working mom striving to love my kids as much as I can in every precious moment we share.
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Summary:
In this heartfelt reflection, Jamie Parker shares her decision to embrace being late rather than feeling guilty about it. Through imaginative play with her daughter, she highlights the importance of cherishing fleeting childhood moments over the pressures of a rushed schedule. Ultimately, she acknowledges that while her mornings may be chaotic, the love and connection with her children are worth the occasional tardiness.