My four-year-old burst out of his room, his shirt smeared with toothpaste and sneakers laced incorrectly. My younger toddler scampered after him, his hair and shirt dripping wet.
“What happened?” I demanded of my eldest, irritation bubbling up within me. We were already running behind schedule, and my stomach knotted in frustration.
Oblivious to my annoyance, he exclaimed, “I went to the bathroom, got dressed, and brushed my teeth!” He bounced with excitement.
This was no small feat; he had managed to do all of this independently—something I had been hoping he would achieve for ages. Breathe, I reminded myself. (No, I don’t have a dog; I was talking to myself.) I needed to reign in my frustration quickly.
I recalled a friend’s post on social media. She shared a story about her daughter, Lily, who excitedly broke a brand-new crayon in half. “Lily!” she had exclaimed, “What made you break that crayon?” The joy on Lily’s face faded as she burst into tears, saying, “I just wanted to show you how strong I was!”
Lily’s crayon incident resonated with me. My son wasn’t trying to sabotage our morning; he was striving for independence. He even took the time to style his little brother’s hair, which explained the dampness.
Taking a deep breath, I felt the tension in my stomach ease. His mismatched shoes could easily be swapped, and there was plenty of time to change his shirt later. This wasn’t a catastrophe; it was a good day.
In truth, we weren’t running late because of him. We were late because I hadn’t woken everyone up early enough, and honestly, life with three little ones can be unpredictable. As they say, life happens—an old adage that holds true.
And as if on cue, my younger son squatted down, his face reddening as he grunted.
Now, we were definitely late.
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Summary:
Parenting can be chaotic, especially when children are learning to be independent. This piece reflects on a morning filled with mishaps but highlights the joys of self-sufficiency in kids. A moment of frustration transformed into a lesson about embracing the unpredictable nature of parenthood, reminding us to breathe and appreciate the little victories.