Pancakes…it seemed like such a simple request for breakfast. But, truth-be-told, getting up extra early to make a hot breakfast before my older kiddos had to head out for school was a less-than-appealing proposition. I know it sounds selfish, but whether it’s the baby, a cat, or I just need to use the restroom, sleep has become a desired commodity for me. 

Then it hit me out of nowhere – there won’t be too many more moments where I will have all of my kids in the house. Yes, I have time with the baby, but my older babies….well, time is a thief. It continues its onward march without a care for your feelings or desires. And one day, all too soon, my babies will start to leave one-by-one. Then I won’t have someone asking me to make them pancakes for breakfast. 

Some of you are at this point in your lives already – an empty nest they call it.  And others of you have grandchildren who bring back that joy when they visit. But those visits are short and few. And I am not there yet…I am not ready to be there either. And I also realized in my exhaustion that I am blessed to have four wonderful reasons to be exhausted. That, even with all of us going about our morning getting ready, this was a beautiful way to start the day – talking, eating and enjoying being together (yes, my kids fight, this was rare that they weren’t this particular morning). 

So yes, it is totally normal to be exhausted and not want to be up extra early, but there can be great joy in the moments that come from it. Make the most of the time you have now. Be present in the moment and enjoy yourself. Because these moments will, inevitably, become memories that come flooding back when the house is still and the mornings are quiet.