Help! I've become one of THOSE moms!

For more years than I can count, I had four children going to school in two different counties and at times, to 4 different schools, worked full-time, and still made it to sporting events and practices, made meals on time, lunches for the next day each night, took care of baths, clothes, etc., and was never, NEVER, late for school. I also got up an hour early to exercise and got all 4 school aged children PLUS two babies out the door by 6:30am! Oh, did I mention that I cooked breakfast for the bigger kids and nursed the babies before leaving? Yeah, I did. Our family ran like a well-oiled machine...

It was inconceivable to me that any mother with a child or two, who had nothing more than to get those two children ready for school in the morning, could be late for an 8:30am arrival time. I would often, and I hate to admit it, but I would look at them with disguist. Afterall, what were they teaching their children about responsiblity and timliness?

I am afraid, and a bit embarrassed, to admit that I believe I have become one of those mothers. I have no idea why it happened, but I do know when. Within the year my morning drives for the children became non-existent for the older kids - with the oldest two driving and my husband having the flexibility (finally) to drive the next to to their schools before work, my  mornings became considerably less chaotic - this left me with only the chore of cooking breakfast and getting ready two children instead of 6!

Now I find myself lolligaging in the mornings with the two younger boys.  They play, I get on the Nest. I cook their breakfast, but don't rush them through it. We play with the puppies before school and they watch a little t.v. Life is less stressful as I whip into the school parking lot at 8:38am, and kiss them  goodbye - watching them hustle into the building at the very last second. It's only while passing those previously viewed slow moms leaving the parking lot ahead of me that I realize...I have become them. I understand, now, the inability to get to school before the doors open. I get the desire to take mornings as they unfold rather than adhering to a stressful rush, rush schedule.

It is with heartfelt words that I apologize for looking down on these moms for so many years. I now have great respect for those precious morning minutes, and the extra hour of sleep the kids and I can take advantage of. Life goes by too quickly. I'm in it now, not part of the rushing by crowd, and I'm loving it! What took so long?!

Our house now runs like a loving family. The well-oiled machine has gone to the junkyard!