Since I wrote about some highs and lows of mothering a few weeks ago, I’ve tried to make a few changes myself in hopes of a trickle down effect– happy kids, happy mom… happy mom, happy kids… right?! Oh if only it were that simple. ; )
I decided it was about time to start getting up before my one year old since, for the most part, he’s been sleeping through the night for some time now. My husband gets up a little before 6 am during the week to leave early for work so I made him promise not to let me sleep in! The first week was SO good. I made my hot lemon water, sat and read for a bit, prayed, and basked in the stillness of the morning. My son slept until about 6:30 so I had at least 30 minutes to myself. One morning it was 7:10 before I went up to get him– can you imagine?! I mean, over an hour to myself … I hardly knew what to do with myself. ; ) It was good for my soul and I was a much nicer person to my kids right from the start… probably because I actually finished an entire cup of coffee prior to their stirring!
Unfortunately, kids are unpredictable and since that first week it’s been kinda rocky– middle of the night bad dreams, 5:40 am wake ups, me awake and downstairs but reading the same verse in my Bible over and over again because I feel like I’m half zombie. One morning I was making coffee with Eamon hanging off my leg thinking ‘I don’t care what anyone says I’m convinced I WILL NOT MISS THIS!’ Ha ha. I feel a bit bad admitting that’s what was going through my head at the time.
Today was one of those days– in a way I felt ripped off that I didn’t get my alone time. But if I try really hard to change my perspective, to be grateful for my children, to embrace the ‘ya win some ya lose some!’ way of life… my bitterness seems to melt away and I realize how petty my complaining must sound. My little early risers are my heartbeat! How I love them, how I treasure their company, how I would miss them if they were not in my life.
My character and attitude are truly being sharpened by them day by day and I know I have a loooooong way to go. What about you? Do you wake up before your kids? Any advice on training children to sleep in? ; ) Until then, we’ll be the crazy neighbors taking pictures outside the house at 7 am. 😀