The Routine

Get up, shower. 

Dressed and moisturised.

Wake a child gently, let the other sleep. 

Empty dishwasher, put kettle on. 

Brunch bar and juice carton in the front section of a child's backpack.

Water bottle in the side pocket, book within.

Tea and audio book, while making the packed lunch. 

Plain pasta, grated cheese, skips, a peeled and sliced apple, a Cadbury's mini roll. 

Hear youngest child stomp downstairs.

The sound of You Tube and spoons scraping bowls from the lounge. 

The same. Every. Day. 

Helping to pull a shirt over a head. 

Finding socks that are just right. 

Gentle reminders. Timetables checked.

Eat a banana. Clean my teeth. 

Same mirror, same face, same wrinkles. Stretching away into the distance. 

Until they are not the same wrinkles, but some older, wiser version of me that knows. 

She knows that this is the glue of our family. 

Quiet and kind. 

Gentle acts of service. 

The scaffold and support you need to grow two people who need a little bit extra. 

Kiss on the forehead. Quick hug. 

Have a good day! / Be your awesome self! / I Love you!