I was immediately met with a book being dropped on my head by my two year old, my five year old coming into the room with pants soaked through and a bed that needed cleaned, my husband's work clothes not dry despite efforts from yesterday, and the dogs running out of the yard the second I opened the door to chase after someone in the alley as my husband slept peacefully ignoring everything that was happening around him. All before seven in the morning.
I had to breathe in.
I had to take a few more seconds before reacting.
And after those breaths, those seconds I found that it was easier for me to find patience and kindness and understanding toward my children and my husband.
Despite getting up super early and leaving to drop off my husband at work we got caught in the middle of a marathon followed by detour after detour letting citizens of my city enjoy the open roads and bridges without fear of being hit by a car. By the time we got back to my husband's work, it was 30 minutes past his start time. I was bawling in the car. I wanted to scream at the children for just talking. I wanted to bite my husband's head off for yelling at the children. I was so worried about the stress of my husband being late to work. The consequences of him being late. The possibility of him loosing his job.
It would have been so easy for me to loose my patience and react out of anger. For me to let go of kindness and speak harsh words to all those around me.
But I took the time to release my anger and frustration. I found myself looking for kind words to reassure my husband and children that everything would be okay.
And for once...
IT WAS!
My husband had been called off from work. It was all fine. I couldn't believe our luck. Truly this was what we needed.
My husband spent the day with me cuddled on the couch and hugging our children. Watching them dance and listening to their stories.
The children even went down for bed early! All three of them!
An unheard of feat in our household.
I know tomorrow will bring new challenges but today I was brought to tears with hope for a change in my life, a change in my children's lives, a difference in my marriage and hopefully all the relationships in my life.