Mornings, Routine, and a Fresh Year

I’m struggling this morning. I gave myself an extra half hour to sleep, but it’s the first time I’ve gotten up to write since before leaving Armenia for a quick trip back to the States over Christmas.

Jet lag is so much worse coming west.

This summer when we moved here, I had jet lag, but somehow—miraculously—the kids did not. At least, I don’t remember it, which is the same thing, right?

Not this time.

They’ve been getting up in the middle of the night, from 1:30-4:30am. The baby cries and the older boys laugh and yell and jump off their bunk beds. I am not the most patient mama at three in the morning, I can tell you. I’ve had to go back in and apologize a couple of times after losing it on them. (C’mon, though—jumping off the top bunk?)

When I finally get back to sleep, it’s been just about all I can do to wake up at 8am. Or later. But now school is back in session. I’ve had a couple of days waking up just before the kids do, but the truth is I’ve missed getting up at 5am.

I’ve missed pulling on comfy clothes, brushing my teeth, turning on the Christmas tree, starting a pot of French press and reading the Bible while it brews. Then I tiptoe back upstairs to my desk and write.

For me, there’s something about writing in the morning. I love knowing that the rest of the family is asleep. I guess I feel like they’re all safe, they don’t expect anything of me yet, and my to-do list for the day hasn’t woken up and started calling for my attention, either. I have an Anne Shirley-like optimism when I wake up early. 

So today, I’m back. After a restless night still trying to kick the jet lag, I’m here.  

It’s a fresh year, with no mistakes in it. (Well, okay, but I’ve apologized for most of them, I hope.)

Did I say I was struggling? I take it back. Now that I’ve had some coffee and I’ve been sitting here writing, I’m back in my routine, and I feel good. I feel positive that the kids will start sleeping through the night again sometime this year.

I’ve missed this.