good morning, good afternoon and good night!

Monday, January 4^th, 2016

My mornings go like this:

 

Get up, get ready, make oatmeal for me and the kids.  Teoman and Tomris wake up at various times during this routine – sometimes needing me to hold and snuggle them, sometimes ready to eat, sometimes ready to play.  I factor this into my “get ready” time.  We have breakfast together,  the nanny comes and picks up where we are at as I gather my things and start my exit routine.  Gather my bags,  electronics, keys, coffee – and both kids escort me to the elevator.  Tomris carried my coffee for me this morning.  Teoman opened the elevator door.  I step in, they both give me kisses.  Then they both give me hugs.  Then they both give me kisses again.  One usually has to push the elevator button.  Tomris always hesitates stepping over the elevator lip, afraid to fall down.  Teoman has to close the elevator door.  And then they both wave in the elevator window shouting “Bye mama! Bye!”   I holler “Bye, I love you! Have a good day!” until little hands and voices are out of sight.

It’s a good way to start the day.  But, by then, no matter what it seems, I’m usually late.  The colder days I’m now navigating weather and traffic.  By the time I get  to school I feel like I’ve already lived a whole day.

I’ve become a morning person, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I get home  - I’m usually greeted with just as enthusiastic greetings.  Both kids nap in the afternoon, and these days their naps are getting later and later – which makes our nighttime routine the polar opposite.  I’m tired, and the kids are fully rested.

I do pretty good for the first couple of hours.  I try to play cars, or play-dough, or doctor.  Tolga or I put on dinner – something simple.  Tonight we made cookies together too.

But it also is constant battling of stopping fighting, pushing them to sit at the table and eat,  wash their hands, etc.  By the time we’ve done medicine, teeth, and pajamas – I can’t take much more.  But the night has only begun.  Next comes water, bathroom trips, crying because of the dark, or wanting my bed or abi’s bed or a stuffed animal, and so on.

I can’t say these days end on a high note, but it’s amazing what a good night’s sleep and a fresh morning can do for my soul each night.