A key detail that makes even rushed mornings meaningful.

No one promised that real life would be perfect or easy, but I’ve found that real life happens in the imperfect moments.

I’m not saying anything new when I suggest that my morning routine isn’t my first choice. I wake up quite early to ensure personal routines are out of the way and I can be more available to get everyone else up and ready for the day.

The clock still feels rushed and the timing tight but we’ve yet to be late for any commitment–even when neither mine or Chris’s alarms went off just the other morning. It was a mad dash but the structure we’ve developed allowed us to catch up quickly. That was a miracle to say the least.

While structure wasn’t even the point of this post, there is another secret to helping mornings go smoothly that I’ve tried to practice every morning–actually, before I even knew it was a thing. Without it, I am often filled with regret and a sense of failure. It’s adding softness to the morning. This can be through a warm hug, a kind gesture, meeting someone’s basic need, etc!

I don’t want a single day to go by without holding each of my kiddos to my heart. I still help dress the little ones, so I naturally get an opportunity to snuggle and hold them before it’s time to don shoes and backpacks. Honestly, it makes all the difference in my world.

And even if there’s a lack of motivation and need for redirection, I’ll make sure to hug that child close before even backing out of the garage. Otherwise, the day is heavy–just for me on the inside. I don’t ever want any of my children to walk into their classroom feeling like mommy is mad at them. Slowing down for little moments like these has made such a world of difference for me. And likely for them.

As a mom, I feel so many things for so many people and carry it all close to my heart. And while that doesn’t have to change, I could benefit greatly by adding more strength to my day so I can be and do my best in every area.

Soften wins.

Thanks for reading along!