It doesn’t matter where — school, daycare, soccer practice, swim lessons, a birthday party, Nana’s house, vacation. It could be the most exciting trip to an amusement park that we’ve been planning and talking about for months.
We are always late!
If you’re like me, the hardest part of the day is getting out the front door and actually pulling out of the driveway.
Our family has one car and two kids. My husband and I both work full time, and our oldest (who just turned 5), is starting to have a calendar busier than mine. We are coming and going a lot. Sometimes it’s early in the morning; other times our departure is not until later in the day. It really does not matter. Even on the days I plan in extra time, I promise you, we will be late.
Why, though? I just don’t understand!
I’ve laid out the clothes, packed the diaper bag, backpacks, snacks, extra snacks, some toys, and more snacks. Literally, all they have to do is get dressed, put on some shoes, maybe a coat, and get in the car. And nope! Still late. We still cannot get out the door without coaxing, laughing, chasing, definitely sweat, and maybe some tears, which all cause us to miss that perfect window of time, including the extra, extra time I try to build in to arrive on time.
So, I’ve been thinking about it. And I’ve come to the following conclusions when it comes to family tardiness:
- Mom really is better than anyone else at putting on socks. I even know how to make it so the line on the socks is perfectly at the top of their feet.
- No one else can run around the house quite like mom — while holding a coffee.
- Only mom can walk perfectly down the stairs while holding a purse, a diaper bag, a backpack, and a child.
- Mom always knows where the coats and hats are.
- Watching mom race to the car in heels is amazing.
- Instead of buckling themselves in their own seats, they’d rather watch me as I attempt to turn around in my seat to buckle them.
- No one does it quite like mom!
Our children really just want us to do everything — put their socks on; find their coats, hats, and mittens; carry their bags down the stairs; race them to the car; and buckle them up. In these moments when they want me to do it all, all I want to do is arrive on time. If only the two could happen together!
So, until I figure it out I will continue the gentle reminders to get dressed, walk down the stairs, get in the car, get in the car, buckle, buckle, BUCKLE! Sorry we’re late — again!
