Mornings

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Ohhh, the joys of having early risers.  Actually, it isn't as difficult as it used to be.  My older children are now able to get their own cereal, and will typically help the younger ones as well--if I'm not up--although most of the time, I am.  And the baby (18 months) has joined in the fun of rising early.  This morning, he was up at 6:30.  So, I poured the coffee early, thus starting my caffeine drip.

But there were moments to savor today.  My little man was able to wave goodbye as Daddy left for work.  Of course, he followed Daddy to the car, calling out "Ri!  Ri!" (Ride).  When he wasn't buckled into his car seat, the little guy switched to waving just as fast as his little arm would let him.  Then he strolled all over the front yard until we retreated to the back (fenced) yard.  The air was pleasant; not yet hot and humid, and with a gentle breeze whispering that Autumn is on the way.  You know when there's just the slightest hint of cool?  It's as though the air has shed summertime, just as trees are preparing to shed leaves and squirrels busily work all day, gathering acorns.  (We have a beautiful, tall oak tree so we enjoy watching their antics).  Anyway, in the back yard we played, enjoying the outdoors. First, he wanted to ride the tricycle (which means Mama pushes him along), then he wanted to swing (a big smile on his toddler face)...and then he saw the bottles of bubbles.  "Bubba!  Bubba!" he called out as he reached for one.  So we blew bubbles.  And blew bubbles.  He gleefully tried to catch them, especially pleased when a bubble landed and didn't pop.  Until, of course, he popped it himself.

And then, one by one, big brother and sisters each appeared to join in a few minutes of play before the sun heats up the air to an unbearable degree (107 is today's September 2 forecast...UGH).  The little girls were still clad in their sweet nightgowns, but this didn't stop them from joyfully swinging...nor from marching around the yard...nor from collecting acorns and acorn tops for their fairy house (a make-believe creation that encourages them to look for bits and pieces of nature, to add to the fairy house at the base of our oak tree).  Meanwhile I escape indoors to refill my coffee, pull out the first load of laundry for today, and wash/refill the bubbles bottles for next time.

And then, at last, the sun is high enough to erase the pleasure of outdoors, and so, inside they tromp.  Time to wash hands, eat breakfast, and begin lessons.  Another reason to love homeschooling.  Rather than waking my children, rushing here and there to get them dressed, fed, and out the door "on time"...we are able to wake naturally (remember, they are early risers on their own, so no one really sleeps in), to greet the mornings slowly and with joy.  If we are blessed with beautiful weather, we can take pleasure in God's creation before we begin routine.  If clouds and rain greet us, we can soak in the cozy atmosphere instead of running out the door and into the rain and away to school.  Our days hold order, but they are also our own.  We create the routine which works for our family; we structure our days to allow for childhood to emerge, to allow for learning to take place on its own (although there are still complaints over assignments that one child or another does not *like* to do!).  We order our time most days, rather than being ordered around by someone else's schedule, convenience, what-have-you.  There will be plenty of time to march to the beat of someone else's drum when my children grow up and gain responsibilities of jobs, higher education, families.  But why rush it? Childhood calls!  Nature; God's creation, waves to us daily.  Time is fleeting, and children are only children for a short time, but memories last forever.  I'm thankful that I can create daily memories with my most treasured ones.

To be fair, some days wax much less poetic.  Some nights with a baby allow little rest, and some days every one wakes up grumpy...on those days, it might be tempting to rush them out the door in order that they may be someone else's problem for a few hours.  But we charge through, correcting attitudes as necessary (including my own!), and we pray for patience and grace, and we know that the Lord's mercies are new every morning.  That is the everlasting hope we have while on this earth.

Time for the last of my coffee. Time to switch the laundry.  Time for lessons, for the day's work, to begin.