Some parents tell me… “my kids get up and get ready on their own…. The maid drops them to the bus stop. They just say bye and leave.” Well… that’s great for you! Whatever works. But I can’t get myself to leave them. I want to cuddle in for that 5 minutes before they wake up. I want to wake them up with my hugs and kisses. I want to be the one giving them their morning snack and seeing them off to the bus stop. Not because I HAVE to do it but because I WANT to do it.

Why you may ask … when I can leave it up to the help and enjoy some extra sleep. But they’re my kids… not the help’s. And my kids need to see my face when they wake up not the help’s. I know it’s very comforting for them when I see them off at the bus stop. They give me a hug when they get on and a flying kiss from the bus window and the smiles on their faces is priceless. Where will I get such a start to my day? and where will THEY get such a start to their day? I just feel they feel more secure and so loved when I do these things for them. Every little thing counts and when they grow up they will understand that no matter how late my mom slept or did not sleep at all…. She still woke up at 5:30am every day to send us to school. Not because she HAD to but because she WANTED to. Isn’t that comforting? To know your mom cares enough to do that? (So what if I snuggle back into my bed sometimes and sleep a little more after I drop them 😋)

Same goes with picking them up from the bus stop every afternoon. After I started working at the factory a year ago I would send the help to pick them up. And reach home maybe after half an hour or so. The days I made it to pick them up they would be overjoyed. Even the helper in the bus would tell me. When they (especially A) see me standing at the bus stop from far, the smile would go from ear to ear and she would be super excited. So now I try to come as much as I can. And of course you get to hear how their day went just then and there. There’s no later for that.

They are with me now. Once they grow up they will be gone their own ways and if I tell them I’m coming to pick you up they might not want it any more. My neighbour would tell me all the time when my babies were small. Don’t miss out on these little things. Once they are grown up you will long for them. Enjoy this childhood.

So here I am. Trying to enjoy that childhood of theirs as much as I can. It can be stressful and it can be overwhelming but I know we parents can hang in there.