Mornings can be pretty rough around these parts. With school starting at 7:35, my kids are all up by 6:30. We rush through breakfast, getting dressed, teeth brushed, shoes on, lunches packed, snacks and water bottles put into backpacks, shoes on and finally family prayer – all by 7:15 when they leave.
Some days this goes really smoothly. Some days the kids know what to do and they just get it done. Other days, there is yelling, fighting, crying and contention.
Today was one of those other days. Seth was messing around, a small mirror was broken, there were tears (Libby’s), justifications (Seth’s), tempers lost (all of us) and more tears (Seth’s).
Jeremy was getting frustrated because he just needed to get the kids to school and to work. I told him to take Amelia and I would take Seth when he calms down. We quickly had family prayer and Jer and Amelia left.
As I sat with my biggest boy on my lap, he spilled his heart. Growing up is so hard and sometimes I forget that. I forget sometimes the politics involved in 3rd grade friendships. He cried and asked to please not go to school today.
He doesn’t have tests, they aren’t getting ready for any tests, he just needed a day with his Mom and little sister and little brother.
As I sat and listened to him, my heart told me to let him stay home. The Spirit whispered to my soul, “he needs this”.
So today he is having a mental health day. We all need them. They help us to be refreshed and ready to face the next day. They help us to take stock about what is really important, they help us to get ready to face the hard things in our lives.
Today is his day. We will talk, we will spend time together, I will help him come up with strategies for dealing with the hard friend things at school and we will snuggle.
Today is going to be a good day. It just might be a mental health day for both of us.
How sweet <3
I love days like this!
Hannah needs these pretty often actually. We are working on getting her to communicate more with us…it’s a work in progress. I just know it’s so important for me to let her know I am here and understand. Perfect idea in my opinion
I hope your day with Seth was extra lovely! You are such a good Mom Kim!
Our kids must be in sync, because Aurora did the same thing on the 21st. Friendships can be so hard. It was great having a little one on one time with her too (even if she did have to share me with the daycare part of the day) I was telling my Jeremy that I really think if we keep these options open from time to time, she will be less likely to skip school without us knowing. If she has parents that respond to her needs, she will be less likely to feel the need to be underhanded about it.
Oh boy, I feel this. Our 4-year-old and I will have on of these days, then I clue into what is in his little heart and head. And I have a few minutes of self-doubt and loathing for being dense (“duh, he was acting out because he has a need he cannot articulate!”). Then we sit and process it together.