Let me tell you about mornings at our house. I spent the first several months of Linden's life feeling constantly behind on sleep, getting out of the house, and eating meals on time. It took me a long time to recover from giving birth. Linden had a tongue tie revision at two weeks old that required post-op stretches every 4 hours, day and night, for a few weeks. Then, at six weeks postpartum, when I started to feel more normal, breastfeeding was getting easier and those horrible tongue tie stretches were over, Linden got her first UTI. That landed us in the hospital for three days and kicked off months of recurring infections, frustrating insurance issues, a crazy amount of paperwork, appointments and, naturally, little to no sleep. In seasons where you're flooded with complications and obstacles, you face every day just bracing for the next wave. I lived a lot of days feeling a certain amount of dread for whatever the "next thing" would be. Where I found peace and rest- sleeping in!
Linden would wake up around 6:30 am. I nursed her then we'd both fall back asleep. I realize now that when she fell back asleep, it was actually her first nap. Maybe I could have gotten up then to make breakfast or prep for a morning outing. But I didn't! I didn't go to play dates. I couldn't make appointments before ten or eleven. I didn't drink coffee or eat anything until lunchtime. I didn't change into real clothes until late afternoon. There was a time I beat myself up about our non-routine. But it was all I knew to do and what I had to do to survive. I share the specifics, because I know there are new and not-so-new mamas out there doing the same thing and wondering if it's ok. It is ok. It is all the is required of you today!
Now Linden is "20 months" (if you're a parent) or "one and a half" (if you're not), and our mornings move to a sweet rhythm. Linden has given herself chores like feeding the cat and getting her plate out for breakfast. I wake up mostly rested and ready to tackle the day. It feels normal. At least our normal. I barely remember what it felt like to struggle through the morning until my ten o'clock coffee.
Because of those days, I really treasure our current routine. And making breakfast at 7:30 am falls right in the middle of it! This breakfast bowl falls right in the middle, too, between nourishing and decadent. Maybe I'd call it breakfast ice cream? Fruity, nutty and all around delish. I hope you enjoy this goodness no matter what your mornings look like! xo
