Mastering mornings

(A-Z Challenge: M) 

Yesterday I worked out, made breakfast for three, packed lunch for two, and got the crockpot set up with dinner for four. I shepherded the kids through basic hygiene, walked them several blocks to school, walked myself to the bus stop, and was downtown near my office by 9:15 a.m. with my superwoman cape flying. 

I stepped into a coffee shop downtown and calmly sipped a latte out of a porcelain cup on a little porcelain plate, riding the sense of accomplishment I had after handling all that like a champion. (And admittedly avoiding being humbled by my inbox.)

Today, though, I overslept and woke up to my daughter’s hysteria outside my bedroom door as she shriek-tattled on her brother for copying her. I grumped my way through making breakfast & packing lunches, and then glimpsed at my work email on my phone and went into a frenzy seeing that the presentation my team and I had worked on late into the night needed more work and it was due to the client in 2 hours. I practically threw the kids at my partner, Gary, and we all piled into the car. I did the duck & roll out of the passenger door at the corner near my bus stop while he drove the kids the rest of the way to school. I arrived at work out of breath and beelined for the project manager before sending another round of feedback to the designer just in time.

I know better than to leave lunch packing for the morning, and I also know that cereal is an acceptable breakfast even though it doesn’t involve pacing in front of the stove. 

Time to institute routine again, and set realistic expectations of the morning. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, approaching the day with simplicity in mind.