Morning Light

I get up early.

Thoughts of what's coming always draw me out of bed. As I imagine them to be at your house, mornings are a whirlwind around here. Get 'em up. Get 'em fed. Make the lunches. Don't forget the homework, contact lenses, bus notes, gloves. You know the drill. 

So I get up before everyone else and spend a few minutes.

The calm before the proverbial storm. 

Of course there's coffee and checking in on my favorite blogs. Until recently there were the papers as well. (It hasn't been the same for me since news-gathering became a digital habit.) There was dog walking... but no more. Now it's just me and the cat. We warm the house for the others. We gather our strength for the rush. (Mostly I gather my strength and she sits on the back of a chair and watches the sun rise.)

At 6:15 a.m. I usually feel as if I can accomplish anything. The day lays in front of me with endless moments I plan to fill with finishing. I will finish cleaning the bathrooms. I will finish the dishes, the laundry, the bills. I will clean my closet and file that stack of papers. I will finish everything while devoting my full attention to playing with my toddler.

At 6:37 a.m. it seems possible to finish everything.

But I never do.

Tonight, in a moment of feeling unsuccessful, I will remind myself of the things that did get finished.

When Jake got off the school bus, there were warm cookies waiting for him—never mind if the dishes were still in the sink. When Quinn took his nap, his diaper was clean, his belly was full and he was wrapped up in a quilt that I stitched for him—no matter if his jammies were still in a pile on the floor. When he bumped his head while we played, I scooped him up and kissed it until he laughed—it's okay if the toys still sit where we left them. When Jake wanted to play a new piece for me on his keyboard, I sat and listened to it over and over—no one minded eating dinner a little late. And when everyone was sleeping and the quiet finally settled back around me, the house was a mess and nothing was set for the next morning but I didn't mind.

At 6:04 a.m. tomorrow, it'll all seem possible again, and maybe tomorrow it will be.

Thanks for visiting.

Comments

[jacquie]

it's always great to remember that tomorrow is another day.

[Tara Thayer]

This is a beautiful post, Amy. I love the photo, too.
Your days sound so much like mine...I will have to remember tonight to look at everything I did, instead of only seeing what I didn't get done.
Take care, Tara

[Amy @ parkcitygirl]

I love the morning light! I don't get up early, if anything I stay up late to get more done. Love your post - a great reminder about all that you and i DO get done :)

[Frogdancer]

I do the same. I love my quiet starts.

[MichelleB]

A lovely post. Thank you.

[christina]

Such lovely sentiments and so true for many moms. I am able to get a decent amount done, but I think about those days when i'll have another baby and a toddler and things will sit. I'll have to learn to be okay with it. Somehow nesting came and never went. :) Lovely post and lovely picture.

[maya]

lovely post.

and thanks for having us. :)

[amy]

Beautiful post! I love it!

[Shalet]

At six am I was at work just finishing my shift. Nothing seemed possible. Now I've had a nap and at least feel semi-human. But guess what? I'm not doing the dishes. No way no how. Tonight I work again but then get some time off. Tomorrow morning I'll pad around the clinic looking for the light.

Gorgeous picture!

[caroline thornewill]

Beautiful, and perfect, and just as it should be.

I'm doing a spur of the minute color week over at the Burrow, if you wanna come play. Like you don't have anything else to do!

[Laura]

Simple. Beautiful.

[MystikMomma]

Trying to get it all done, on time, the way you picture in your head is daunting at times. I too try to let things go and know it will be there tomorrow and if I didn't get to it today, well there was a reason why I didn't. There is a reason for everything and sometimes it just makes sense to not figure it out.

Today, I needed to pack for our 18 day trip to Ohio. Well, needless to say, we are only half way done and I need to rethink what I packed, as there is too much stuff. Mind you I only packed 5 outfits for the boys and 2 pair of pants for me. I feel a little defeated, but there is tomorrow and I will wake up renewed.

[V]

That was so lovely. I may get up early tomorrow, Just to have that experience... thanks for sharing.
:-}

[the pesky bombolino]

Beautiful photo and a beautiful post- thank you!

[elizabeth of course]

That's exactly how I felt this morning. The sink was piled high, but my boys had home baked shortbread for breakfast.

[Andrea]

Thank you...

[jessica]

I feel the exact same way in the morning. The world is fresh and the slate is clean-I can do anything that comes my way. I wish we were closer together to meet for coffee early in the morning!

[Kathleen]

What a familiar feeling. It's so easy for me to tick off the list of ways I failed today - the toys and clothes still on the floor, the projects unfinished - but there were small accomplishments too, and there will be tomorrow, with coffee and morning light and a whole new set of possibilities. And, hopefully, cookies at the end of the day!

[Beth]

I'm more of a night owl myself. If I do manage to wake early though it was a certain magical feel. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

[Anna]

I've just started working part time and I try to remind myself of the very same things. It's to spend more time with the kids that I do this, not to spend more time folding laundry.Though, when I look around in our livingroom, it's easy to forget ...

Love from Stockholm, Sweden.

[Stephanie]

Lovely. So very lovely.