Eyes slow to waken, body hesitates to move, it’s a new day and yet an old routine has commenced once again. The bane of schedules, the loss of time, the unsettling sense of urgency, cheers to the new academic year!

I grasped onto the fleeting moments over summer with the boys! Basked in every precious emotion whether it provided feelings of contentment or significant frustration. Now the rigours of hustling to get two boys off to school and a toddler off to kindy have become a shock to the nervous system.

Surely I should have anticipated these feelings. I should have been fully prepared, and although I embrace the challenges and the urgency I still have resentment for the holidays coming to a swift end. You see, I’ve been savouring moments before we add the new addition to our family and now I feel robbed of time, precious quality time!

And here presents the good cop, bad cop! In this household, I’m certainly deemed the bad cop! I’m the nagging, repetitive, law enforcer in the house. I’m preventing the boys from simply doing what they want day in and day out. The daily regime:- wake up, make your bed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get dressed, pack your bag, hasn’t lost its charm as I grow tired of my own bellow and yet the reoccurrence hasn’t developed its muscle memory in the soldiers as yet!

I feel like a slave driver, asking they behave accordingly in public, in a business establishment, when addressing others, when having to complete tasks they may dislike, I’m exasperated at the pitch of my own instruction.

We participate in our extracurricular activities after school which consume 3 out of our 5 weekday evenings. I’ve made numerous requests for appropriate behaviour while I teach at the studio, knowing these kids may just want to be in the comfort of their own home. Than bedtime protocol commences:- wash hands, dinner, shower, story and bed! We all find solace in the prayers and cuddles before bed and are comforted by Nana in Bermuda’s gospel music at night. The sound of her voice soothes the soul and her presence radiates throughout the home even though she is oceans and shores away!

I pine for the day time seemingly stands still, there is a pause in the systematic routine and we can refresh and recharge. I yearn for holidays, for a moment just to clasp their hands and embrace them for an abundance of time uninterrupted by others or activities! I welcome the silence, the tranquility and the peace and reject the current state of affairs where routine requires discipline, commitment, hard work and reiteration.

I desire to be the good cop solely and loathe being the bad cop! If only I could guide my boys efficiently and effectively with song! I believe a composition is required as any new technique is preferred to the toll of being a lone rogue bad cop!!