They often say that waking up before your kids is key. The idea is to carve out a few precious moments of solitude to mentally gear up for the day ahead.
But let’s be honest: unless I’m keen on rising at 5:14 a.m., that’s simply not happening. I’d rather catch a few extra Z’s than have a fleeting slice of alone time that’s bound to be shattered by my children’s uncanny “she’s-awake radar.” Once I stir, they’ll know, and they’ll come with their demands. At this hour, I’m not ready for that.
So, I sleep in as long as possible. When they finally wake up, it’s never in a gentle manner. My day typically starts with a tap on the eyelid (thanks for the wake-up call), a kick in the back (if you’re sneaking into my bed, at least try to be stealthy), or full-on screaming (for the love of sleep, I hear you! Just give me ten more minutes!).
My morning awakening is anything but subtle—it’s more like a full-blown alarm bell: GET UP MOM, WE’RE AWAKE AND WE NEEEEEED THINGS.
And yes, that’s things—plural.
“Okay, okay. Let me just brush my t…,”
“No, Mom! My SOCK! It’s all wrong; you need to fix it!”
“Fine, let me take a…,”
“MOM!!!! Where’s my SHIRT?! Is it clean? Where. Is. My. Shirt?!”
“Alright, let me splash some water on my fa…,”
“MOOOOMMMY!!! My show isn’t working and I neeeeeed lunch.”
You mean breakfast? Whatever. Just let me find my yoga pa…
“MOM! The baby just dumped cereal all over the floor, and the dog is eating it—hurry!”
And the chaos continues.
Until finally… “STOP IT!!! EVERYONE JUST STOPPPP IT!!! Stop whining about your sock, stop telling me we’re going to be late, and STOP SPILLING THINGS! And what is that smell? Did you really have to poop RIGHT AFTER I JUST GOT YOU ALL DRESSED AND 30 SECONDS BEFORE WE NEED TO LEAVE?! EVERYONE, JUST STOP!!”
“But, Mom…”
“WHAT?!”
“My sock?”
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR SOCK! Either you deal with it or find a new pair.”
Cue the tears, the insults, and the inevitable spiral into self-doubt—why do our mornings always disintegrate into chaos? Then comes the lecture about morning expectations on the way to the bus stop, followed by a quick, cold kiss goodbye.
Then… the gut-wrenching feeling as the bus pulls away.
Bus stop guilt hits hard. Your heart is screaming, “I love you, and I’m sorry!” while your mind races with uncertainty—does he know that?
For more on the challenges of motherhood, check out this post about home insemination kits that can provide support on your journey. And if you’re interested in fertility resources, Science Daily offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.