Ishu’s been waking up REAL early in the morning these days. Like 5-5:30am early.

I think it’s because Ankur leaves the bed around 5am to get ready for the day. So, naturally, Ishu has FOMO and wants to be a part of his papa’s morning.

It’s usually fine. He’ll read books and play toys. He’s generally pretty independent, leaving me to stumble around getting ready for the day.

But this morning, he was a real cranky pants.

As Ankur was leaving, he was whining because he wanted to leave the apartment with his papa.

And then he kept whining when I tried to change his diaper.

Kept whining when I tried to give him his milk. He’d throw it down. So I picked it up and put it back in the fridge. And then he’d cry, attempting to open the fridge, screaming, “Dudu, dudu.”

You want the milk, but you also don’t want the milk.

Got it.

Toddlers, I guess.

ANYWAY, I prioritized the coffee making this morning. Even before I brushed my teeth. Cause this mama needed it.

Ishu was fussy the entire time. Eventually I settled into the couch with my coffee and he kept trying to pull at it.

I was so frustrated. I felt myself losing my cool.

“STOP,” I said loudly. Trying to convey to him that yanking at a mug of HOT LIQUID was NOT okay. Not to mention, the HOT LIQUID was my lifeline.

And, of course, my loud voice made him cry.

I pointed at his books – all the way across the room – to try to push his attention that way. So he would let me SIT IN PEACE.

He wasn’t having it.

I PULLED off a sticker from some piece of mail we got and put it on his shirt. So he was occupied for a little bit trying to pull it off.

That gave me about 45 seconds of quiet.

Eventually, I got to the bottom of my cup. And MAYBE this is psychological, but I swear – I was a nicer human.

I was saying things like, “Let’s see what happens when you put your sticker on the balloon. Which balloon are you going to put it on? The blue one?”

And, hm. Lo and behold, when I was nicer, he was nicer.

When I was softer, he was softer.

When I was engaged and present and calm, he was engaged and present and calm.

Imagine that.

Anyway, this morning’s reflection is brought to you by coffee.

I’m not quite sure how there are parents out there who parent without caffeine.

My husband included.

It’s beyond crazy to me.

I am a nicer person because of coffee. I know it in my bones.

The people that are nice WITHOUT coffee? I don’t understand you, but I respect the shit out of you.

That is all.

Have a nice day.

Question of the Day:

Are you a coffee drinker or are you a wizard?