Routines go Awry
Right, hot chocolate made, book picked, we’re all sitting down. We are getting ready for bed. Two of us were, one, not so much.
Oz started messing around. Spilled hot chocolate on Az and myself, grabbing the book and changing the page as we read, climbing on me and again, accident two, hot chocolate on me. My patience was overly tested. I was done!
I took the book and put it away and yelled, yes, yelled, “Bedtime.” More often than not, I give a warning, allowing room to process and decide whether to push further or not. This time, I was final. It was bedtime whether they were ready or not!
Tears followed.
I did not complete the routine as I should have. Dad took over, and I went to finish the dinner.
As I am stirring the risotto, I take the time to breathe and ask myself what my impatience was about. I knew it was related to me, not them. Nothing that was happening is new. My reaction, on the other hand, was off. Aha! I made the connection.
I have had this task on my mind all day—making my first social media post to introduce myself and my business to Instagrammers. Social media is not something I typically use to share my life happenings, yet here I am, choosing to share myself and something I am passionate about—a new business centered on parenting. Of course, I am excited, uncomfortable yet comfortable, nervous, and protective over myself and my business. I know deep in my heart, it is a necessity.
I am surprised and also unsurprised. I know better; I know what I should do when things aren’t going to plan. Yet, somehow I forgot this. In the moment, I was caught up in the secondary challenge, I forgot to utilize my tools and be present.
Why am I sharing this?
Well, parenting is a journey. Even when you have all the knowledge and tools, a new secondary challenge can take precedence, and all of a sudden, you lose presence. In the moment of hot chocolate spills, finding the right page, and reassuring one child while the other is playful, I did what I decided was for me, I lost the reality of bedtime stories being for them. I lost presence.
Now, I am reminded, by myself, to be present. To breathe and remember, it’s just a moment. I am reminded the primary moment is to get them to bed as peacefully as possible and employ discipline as needed. The secondary challenge will be primary in less than 30 minutes.
Share with me your thoughts and moments like this, I’d love to hear from you too.