Good morning!

Today is Picture Day over at Ishu’s school. We are dressing him up in his suspenders + bowtie outfit. Something about a toddler in a bowtie just melts my heart.

I always told myself I wasn’t gonna be that mama that spends a ton of money on pictures. Because, well, I take a zillion of them daily.

But I think I’m gonna be a mama that spends a ton of money on pictures.

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THEY TURN OUT!

Anyway, Ankur and I were both out of bed real early this morning. Him for work. Me because my eyes opened and I figured I would just get up and get things going to make our morning a little easier.

But around 5:45am, we heard the door creak open and our little guy made his way into the kitchen. He immediately sat in between his tower and the fridge, mumbling something about “sitting right here, criss-cross.”

We warmed up his pancakes and brought them over to the table.

He dug in almost immediately. But the minute the pancakes were done, he started whining and crying about the small things. Mad because I wouldn’t put on my coat RIGHT NOW. Crying about something that I’m still not entirely sure about.

Eventually, I was able to guide him back to the room and snuggle him in bed. And it was the perfect reset.

I’ve realized that there’s a running theme around here every time that Ishu wakes up alone. It reminds me so much of our pre-Ishu days when Ankur and I would wake up on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

Back in those days, the second I opened my eyes, I threw back the covers, hopped out of bed, and was ready to SEIZE THE DAY. I mean, there were farmers markets to go to, coffee to be drunk, breakfast to be had.

And while Ankur is the biggest breakfast fan I’ve ever met in my life, I learned – with time – that he really needed that quality time in the morning. Just laying next to each other in bed. Connecting with each other before we kicked off the day.

Ishu is like his papa in that way.

He’s not quite ready to start his day until he feels connected.

And I think – for him – he needs that connection in the bed, under the blankets, curled up next to our bodies.

It also reminded me of something that Pam Leo, the author of Connection Parenting, wrote. “Either we spend time meeting children’s emotional needs by filling their cup with love or we spend time dealing with the behaviors caused from their unmet needs. Either way we spend the time.”

I could have barged through our day. Marched right through, trying to push him to get ready or hurry, hurry, hurry.

But I knew that if we were able to reset in this way, it’d make the day so much smoother for the both of us.

Gah. This little kid. He’s teaching me all the patience and deep breathing these days. But I know it is also making me a stronger, better, more calm and conscious person as I learn how to navigate each phase of motherhood.

Now I’m off to go put the cutest little outfit on the cutest little toddler.

Hope you have a happy Thursday!