Just 3 minutes

That’s all it took to change the course of my morning last week.

Our weekday mornings are rarely ‘enjoyable’. That doesn’t make them horrendous or anything, just not a time that I particularly enjoy.

We’re up, the kids have their breakfast with their dad whilst I jump in the shower, then I come down and take over as he leaves for work, getting bags ready, feeding the guinea pigs, popping a load of washing on, and clearing things away. We’re then back upstairs and getting the two of them washed and dressed ready to leave. I’d imagine it’s a similar story in many households across the nation at the same time.

There’s not a lot of room for doing things differently, Or at least, not for me. The kids tend to have to play after breakfast, but as I’m one of those weird people who can’t leave the house in a mess, if they’re getting things out, we then need to factor in putting them away before we go out, too.

And yes, I become shouty mum most mornings. Not something I’m proud of, but we’ve a fair bit to do and we don’t like to be late.

I tend to wake most days and think ‘right, a relaxed morning, we can do this’ and then it goes wrong! I am a morning person, so it isn’t that, it’s just my short fuse when we’re on a deadline. My fault.

So I was having a typical morning last week, not shouty, just rushing about trying to do a million things at once, when my girl changed things up.

She’d been playing upstairs with her brother and then randomly ran downstairs and asked for a song to be played for them. She wanted a song that I used to sing to her when she was a baby and toddler which she now loves. It’s become a special one for both of us, so it was sweet that she chose it. So I parked my mental to-do list, and we turned it up loud and sang and danced round the kitchen.

I was happy. My girl was happy. My son was somewhat bemused.

It changed the feel of the morning. I felt lighter and considerably more patient. I don’t think that I have a few minutes spare at this time each day, but it seems I do, and really what’s 3 minutes?

Just 3 minutes. A much better start to the day, which continued, lifting me during the school run mayhem.

A special 3 minutes. I think I need to follow my wise 6 year old’s lead more often. She’s clearly the smartest person on our house…

Boo aged 6

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10 thoughts on “Just 3 minutes”

  1. Oh I hate to admit it but I’m shouty mum too – I’m a lot like you when I get up in the mornings, I like to tidy up the mess they’ve made in the earlier hours but sometimes I have to do it once I get back! Although I’m more shouty because certain little person refuses to get dressed and takes forever putting shoes on, mornings are hectic and thankfully half term is upon us!
    It’s strange what can change a morning from good to bad to good again, I’m glad your girl saved it 🙂 she’s utterly beautiful btw! Xx

    1. She did save it, we need to do it more often! It’s so easy to become shouty, as there’s a lot to do and I hate being late. And thank you, that’s lovely of you to say x

  2. I really love this post Jocelyn – really heart-warming and makes you take stock. So glad you had a happy household if a somewhat bemused son haha.
    Next time though you should record it and post up as a vlog!!
    Sammy xxx

  3. Phew! Thanks for this post. Just had one of those lunchtime tussles with my 3-year-old, so this was a timely read. It’s so easy to slip into the habit of getting shouty (the predictable nature of the mess!) and feeling bad about it the rest of the morning, especially if you can’t get straight into the buggy and out of the house. You’ve a smart kid there. 🙂 x

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