5, 4, 3, 2, 1, LAUNCH!

If you can’t get yourself out of bed, then you’ll never be able to pursue all of the other changes that you want to make in your life. And if you take that simple step of taking control of your mornings, you’ll catalyze a chain of events that leads to change everywhere. ~ The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

I’m reading this book for a book club I’m in. No, it’s not entirely about waking up in the morning, but for me, this was the initial reason why I just HAD to read the book. You see, I’m not a night owl and I’m not a morning person. Or so I thought. And with being a stay at home mom of 4 kids, a wife, and working 2 jobs, my life has seemed to be in a constant state of chaos. I’ve constantly been wondering how to make a change to make things seem a little less chaotic and messy. All. Of. The. Time.

This past week I started getting up an hour before the kids (6am). I’ve *slowly* started taking control of my mornings so that I’m not rolling myself out of bed when I need to be waking them up for school. My goal is to wake up 2 hours before them, but I started small. Remember. I love sleep, but more importantly, I NEED a lot of sleep to function. I always have. Oh how I wish this wasn’t the case. But it’s how it is.

The changes I have seen in my every day life the past week are absolutely indescribable. I have also found a new love for mornings and the peacefulness that they bring. As much as I’ve seen huge improvements in my daily life, now I told my husband all I want for Mother’s Day is a one time house cleaner. I’ve learned I CAN stay on top of things and not feel like I’m running around like a chicken with its head cut off, which I never saw could happen. But to have time to completely clean the whole house and have a fresh slate is another thing. Especially because as I’m cleaning, someone else is making a mess in the next room. But guys. This. Is. Huge. It’s literally the difference of ONE hour that has changed my whole day! I can’t wait to see how things change when I get up a whole 2 hours early!

But now let me tell you about my day yesterday…

I decided to keep Kylan home from school so that I could go see my dad in WI. I knew I had to be back for a 3:00 appointment, and brunch was going to be at 11am. Plenty of time to drive there and back with the 2 littles, right?? Well my phone decided to have some major issues that started a week ago. I called last weekend (when it was actually letting me call out), and they told me I had one of the few phones that has a glitch. Apple will fix it for free but it’s a 10 day turn around. WHAT!?!? Y’all, it’s a huge glitch. You don’t realize how much you depend on your phone until features aren’t working. Since internet doesn’t work if I’m not connected to WiFi, I screen shotted my directions to have on my camera. But getting there is definitely not a straight shot. We’re talking 4 pictures of directions because of all the roads you take. Roads I don’t know. There would be no phone talking to me saying “in 1 mile, take exit X and make a left.” Nothing. Oh, and my phone won’t call out or text either. So if I miss my turn or get lost, I’m out of luck. Awesoms, right? So basically getting there with the 2 littles was all on hope and a massive prayer.

We did make it. Relief. But then I had to get back home…And by a certain time. Low and behold, I missed a turn. I was trying to figure out where the heck I was for a 1/2 hour until I stopped and asked someone how to get back on track. Thankfully I was only a couple miles from my turn, but I just wasted a 1/2 hour and now I’ll be late for our appointment I thought we’d be early for. And I can’t call them. I also can’t text my husband or sister to call for me! I HATE being late. And it wasn’t going to be 5 minutes late. More like, “I’m sorry, you’ll just need to reschedule,” late. Guys. This is tragic. How did people even used to function before phones!?!

So I finally arrive (25 minutes late). The whole staff was in the office right behind the front desk. All eyes were on me. I don’t even say “Hi.” All I do is hold up 2 gift cards they had just given me 2 days prior for my appointment being messed up a little (it seriously wasn’t even a big deal), and I just blurt out, “Well, here are your gift cards back because now I messed up! I got lost driving back from Milwaukee, and my phone isn’t working so I couldn’t call you! I am so sorry!…” They wouldn’t take my gift cards back, and they still got us in for part of the appointment. The kindness and grace they continue to show me is simply amazing.

But then I was 2 minutes late to get the big boys off the bus. And I couldn’t text my neighbor to see if she could get them for me. Because I have a Kindergartner, the bus won’t leave until they see a parent there to walk home with them. Talk about mom fail on so many levels. And it’s Mother’s Day weekend for crying out loud! I’m supposed to show everyone what a rockstar I am! Haaaaa!

As I’m leaving, the receptionist gives me a flower. I just say “Oh my gosh. I do NOT deserve this!” They’re response, “Yes you do! This is WHY you deserve it!” Why? Because I suck at life right now? Lol!

I do get to my boys. They were fine. The bus driver was fine. We were all fine.

I then had to take them all to Talan’s soccer practice. As I’m sitting at soccer practice, 6:15 hits and it hits me. “CRAP! Kylan’s supposed to be at his make-up swimming lesson from being sick last week!” When Trav asked if I could get Talan to soccer, I said yes of course! (Normally it’s my time to get uninterrupted work done!) But yesterday we were supposed to tag team and he’d do soccer while I did swimming. Mom fail strikes again.

We got home and ate dinner, and I got in a few hours of work. Phew!

But this morning…I. Was. Exhausted. There was no “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch!” I hit snooze until 7am. And this morning was pure CHAOS. Including my mood. I had less patience with the kids. Everything felt turned upside down because I didn’t wake up that hour earlier. One hour. Amazing right?… What’s even crazier is to think that this morning is what my normal used to be! Every. Single. Day. Granted it’s only been one week, but I was just shown this morning that I NEVER want to go back to my old ‘normal.’

So with major bags under my eyes, and chaos that my day is, I’m going to push through today, and start over tomorrow.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms! Whether you’re a Hot-Mess-Mom like me, or a Have-All-Your-Ducks-In-A-Row-Mom. You’re amazing. And there’s always a tomorrow.

5, 4, 3 , 2, 1, LAUNCH!