So another morning of controlled chaos. Somedays it doesnt matter how hard you try no one can seem to get out of the house on time. The alarms were set, the coffee was brewing and yet we sleep through the alarms, cant smell the coffee and the only thing that lets us know we are late in getting up is the dogs whining to go outside!
Now getting four kids out of bed can somedays feel like herding chickens. My wife and I run around with our arms flapping trying to shoo them from one corner to the next, (eat some breakfast, brush your teeth, do your hair) but its all in vane. The minute you turn your back you find one is missing and three are fighting over the same piece of bathroom real estate. I think the middle child should be a real estate attorney for his arguments are by far the strongest and he really can sell it! Then as they are running out the door you realize one is just missing! Missing! This one peeled off in all the commotion and has decided that now is the time to play legos in his room upstairs! Are you freaking kidding me!
I holler upstairs loudly; I call this the “sense of urgency” yell, its a tone that most of my kids can pick up on when we are running late. Notice I said MOST, the youngest cant seem to pick up that tone of voice, he prefers to consider it a sign to get the heck away from everyone and go do his own thing. Dont get me wrong, when I find him he isnt scared or intimidated, he is happy as a clam and just cant seem to understand why now isnt the perfect time to play lego’s. After successfully herding them out the door with the obligatory “have good day, love you” I finally find myself alone. As I slowly sip a cup of coffee, I gaze upon the destruction left behind from the morning shuffle, with my shoulders slumped I tell my wife to have a great day, and my “rainman” brain takes over as I cant just pass a mess and let it go, but instead take up the daunting task of cleaning up after 5 other people.