A pleasant tune reaches my dream, yet within a few seconds, it comes to an abrupt end and I wake to realize my alarm is the cause. I rub my eyes and tease myself with thoughts of missing work and sleeping in but that will never happen. I have to get up. I have to start my day.

My two year old is still sleeping, thank God, so I rush off to the shower realizing I have no time to wash my hair. My 9 PM work out left it rather nasty but a tied up bun will do just fine. Five minutes pass too quickly.

Breakfast of yogurt, granola and fruit with a side of tea will hold me over until lunch. My little boy is still sleeping, another sigh of thanks, and I shovel the food in my mouth to prepare his lunch for school. The minutes tick by and I pack his backpack, and have his lunchbox ready. I glance at the clock, 6:45 already? He is still sound asleep.

Shirt is ironed, pants are on, and hair is acceptable. 7:00 AM and the thirty minute countdown begins.

Where is my shoe? No matching socks; sandals will do. 7:15 AM and the little boy is still sleeping. I start to poke the reluctant riser and give him soft kisses. He doesn’t stir. 7:20 AM and his eyelids flutter open and his little legs straighten out into a stretch. He groans and moans and longs for the sleep that I robbed him of. It will not do, we have to go.

Diaper changed, clothes on, and teeth brushed. My little boy smiles and giggles and asks for juice. Three minute countdown. I am still unable to find the other shoe and my keys have gone missing. My son is hungry for breakfast but I am now officially late for work. I stuff yogurt and a breakfast bar with his lunchbox and we run out the door.

The traffic is thick and my patience is running thin. “Breathe,” I tell myself. 8:00 AM, time for work, but I have not arrived at my son’s school.

We park, and run in. I lay his breakfast items on the table, sign him in, and leave his cries behind. I don’t have time to console him, his teacher is in charge now.

I make it to work; 8:15 AM. No worries, everything is fine.

Welcome to my morning.