One morning, my four-year-old burst out of his room, toothpaste smeared across his shirt and his sneakers mismatched on his feet. His younger brother followed closely, hair damp and shirt soaked.
“What happened?” I inquired, already feeling the pressure of our schedule. A knot of frustration twisted in my stomach.
“I went to the bathroom, dressed myself, and brushed my teeth!” he exclaimed, jumping with excitement, completely unaware of my irritation.
In that moment, I realized he had accomplished all of this without my assistance—something I had been encouraging him to do his entire life. This was a significant milestone, a positive development.
I took a moment to breathe, reminding myself to stay calm. I recalled a friend’s recent post on social media: “My daughter, Lucy, came running to me, bursting with pride, only to accidentally snap a brand-new crayon in half. ‘Lucy!’ I exclaimed, ‘Why did you break that crayon?’ She looked at me, her joy fading, and then started to cry, saying, ‘I just wanted to show you how strong I was!’”
Lucy’s story hit home. Hadn’t I learned anything from her experience?
My son wasn’t deliberately trying to derail our morning; he was striving for independence, even attempting to style his little brother’s hair. That’s why it was wet.
I took another deep breath. The knot in my stomach began to loosen. The shoes could easily be switched, and his shirt would undoubtedly endure more spills throughout the day. It wasn’t a catastrophe; in fact, it was a good day.
The reality was we weren’t late because of him. We were late because I had three small children, and I hadn’t planned well enough. We were late due to the typical chaos of parenting. Life happens—it’s a truth we must accept.
And as if on cue, my toddler squatted, his face turning crimson as he let out a grunt.
Now, we were truly late.
For those navigating similar parenting challenges, you might find insightful resources on home insemination and parenting at Make A Mom. If you’re looking for more information on fertility statistics, the CDC offers an excellent resource.
In summary, the morning was a testament to the unpredictable nature of parenting. While chaos ensued, it also highlighted the importance of celebrating small victories and the journey towards independence for our children.
Leave a Reply