I awoke at 5:30 AM with plans for a productive day ahead—dishes needed washing, laundry awaited folding, and articles were waiting to be written. But before my alarm could ring, I was greeted by a familiar voice.
“Mom! Mommy?”
I reluctantly pulled myself from the warmth of my bed and felt the chill of the floor beneath my feet. Frustration crept in. How could I possibly accomplish everything on my to-do list now? Yet, I paused to gather my thoughts before opening your door, preparing to see you and greet you with a “good morning.”
“I hungy! Mommy, I hungy!”
Of course, you were. You say this every morning. But as you ran to me, I bent down to meet you, and you wrapped your tiny arms around my neck, squeezing tightly.
“Good morning, sweetie! But first, give me a kiss.”
Your cool, wet lips brushed against mine, but before I could fully appreciate that moment, you dashed toward the kitchen, attempting to turn on lights and rushing for breakfast. A meltdown erupted when I poured your milk into a pink cup instead of the purple one (which you hadn’t used in ages). You screamed when I insisted on toasting your waffle instead of letting you eat it frozen. And you cried out when I handed you the waffle, only to find you wanted cereal instead.
Ah, I thought, it’s going to be one of those days. I braced myself for tantrums, mood swings, and the inevitable testing of my patience. I anticipated a long night ahead filled with cooking, cleaning, and writing. However, you surprised me.
There you were, sitting on the living room floor, coloring at the coffee table, and inviting me to join you. I settled beside you, half-expecting a fuss, but instead, you continued coloring, unfazed. I grabbed a crayon and asked whether to color Sofia’s dress or Minnie’s shoes. Without hesitation, you said, “Minnie’s shoes,” and we began to color side by side, enjoying a moment of relaxation and play.
After about 15 minutes, we transitioned to what we call “tent time”—lying on the floor under a sheet or blanket to snuggle.
“Mommy. Go sleep. Stay here. You go sleep. I be back. Okay?”
So, I stayed. I lay still as you scampered around the house gathering stuffed animals and pillows for our cozy setup. Despite my lengthy to-do list, I remained present, cherishing the fleeting moments of your childhood—knowing that this “my mommy is my best friend” phase won’t last forever.
We spent nearly an hour watching Sofia in my bed—breaking my usual “no TV” rules. We sang “Wheels on the Bus” and our ABCs on the kitchen floor. We played pretend dinosaurs, where you stomped and roared through our home, trying to scare me and annoy our downstairs neighbors.
Despite your occasional antics—like dropping rice to “feed our cat” or inexplicably attempting to bite my backside while I did the dishes—you were mostly delightful. Sure, you had your moments of discontent, but they were overshadowed by the joy we shared: the quiet secrets whispered into my ear, the hour-long house tour you gave me, and the laughter, smiles, and hugs that filled our day.
By the time I tucked you in and turned off your light, I realized I hadn’t accomplished much. The sink remained full, the laundry untouched, and my article still unwritten. More than 15 hours had passed since I woke, and I had only a mess of Legos and a few lightly worn clothes to show for it.
But then again, I had you. I had your attention, your love, and your giggles. I truly appreciated your laughter, the way you pronounced words like “school” (skoo) and “potty” (pot-tay), and your adorable innocence. I had uninterrupted quality time because I chose to let everything else slip away.
I saw the world through your wonder-filled eyes and imagination. Thus, the most rewarding choice I made today was simply being present. Because in the grand scheme of things, nothing matters more than you.
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In summary, the best thing I did today was nothing at all, and that’s perfectly okay.
Keyphrase: The most rewarding choice I made today
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]