I’ve written about it before when I was much younger. About how there is a sacredness around tucking in and waking kids up.
When I was younger and we would travel to camp where kids were sleeping in bunk beds for the first time. No sirens. No gun shots. No loud music. Just crickets and the leader below them snoring… I remember several girls all climbing into the same small bunk because it was more familiar this way. I remember boys lining up at the doors, teeth brushed and ready for a hug. I remember tapping their shoulders early in the morning and seeing their sleepy eyes and hearing the groggy voices. The late night cuddles and the early morning attitudes are some of my all time favorites with these kids. Well. Maybe not the attitudes!
This year has been nothing short of unfamiliar and distant to what we usually know as a family. But I have been given the gift… yes, gift, of waking some of our kiddos up each day. Tapping them on the shoulder quietly… although pulling blankets off and opening curtains has happened a few times too! Getting them ready for school. Looking for socks and shoes. Helping mom get all the supplies ready. Watching sleepy eyes open and running all around to find the right jacket or chromebook.
The text said, “la puerta está abierta puedes entra” and although my Spanish is god awful, I’ve heard this enough to know what it means. And that statement alone has its own significance. It was dark and quiet but the oldest was already starting to move around in fear I would target him first. Up next were the two middles. Hiding under covers saying something like, “it can’t be Monday… it’s TOO EARLY!” So I tapped shoulders and poked sides but no luck. Next. The baby. It’s amazing how heavy kids become when they don’t want to wake up! His giggle gave him away and I knew if we could get the oldest and the youngest moving, the middle two wouldn’t be far behind. Next thing I know I'm looking at a bunch of boys in matching pajamas! My heart couldn't handle to cuteness I almost forgot we needed to get out the door! They each had a few moments to get a hug and wipe the sleep out their eyes while waiting for the bathroom. I guess you could consider this our morning routine now.
I am a sucker for the small moments that add up into something big. I love adventure, don’t get me wrong. But there is something sacred or spiritual about the first moments our eyes open, or the softness of our breathing as we drift off to sleep.
And even on days where it takes extra time to sit and talk about life… or look around for shoes... or brush teeth... or read yet another story… it’s time I won’t ever take for granted.
