We awaken to the busy sounds of kids playing, screaming, shouting, clanking, dishes clattering and cupboards opening. The eldest demanding his dietary needs, the middle asking politely and the current youngest fending for himself. The television is turned on and they are quiet as they are filling their wee mouths. I gather my heavily pregnant self together, depart my inviting bed, hop…well stumble into the shower, throw on whatever is deemed clean and fits, and face the brood awaiting my mighty roar. The television is switched off, kids haven’t actually consumed more than one mouthful in the 30mins they’ve been graced with a meal and I am already bellowing out to them “Chop chop it’s school today. Eat your breakfast, let’s go!”

I switch on the laptop to dissolve the silence with the soothing accompaniment of nana and great aunt in Bermuda as our favourite playlist shuffles on repeat. Gospel music truly does fulfil you spiritually, it also calms the dynamic energy in our household. The kettle boils in the background. I scrounge up the boys lunches as they complete their breakfast, brush teeth, dress for school, make their beds (if still undressed from waking), fill water bottles and pack their bags ready to take on the scholastic needs for the day!

Of course the school drop off is always fun. The joy of the infamous traffic in the carpark accompanied by the 8 mile hike where each child requires assistance into their classroom. Each day I ensure each kid increases their own responsibility of what is required before entering the classroom so they are equipped with hopefully managing this routine on their own. Independence is key right? And so is letting go for my own sanity! I venture off back to the carpark…did I mention I’m carrying the toddler the entire way? Sometimes I’m smart enough to get Dad to drop him to daycare so I am only required for one school drop off….another letting go issue or maybe it’s control – I’m getting much better!

It’s home time and let’s not jump for joy! I walk in, there’s a dirt trail from the entry throughout the house, there’s dishes from our morning meal strewn across the counter, on the floor, crumbs everywhere for insects to have their own spread! The laundry basket seems to never empty and there’s clean clothes needing to be folded and packed away because let’s face it I did three loads and left them on the line for days evading this exact moment! I’m tripping over train tracks, sliding on cars and let’s not talk about the unpleasant LEGO! There’s dinner prep, there’s emails to attend to, dance accounts to view, music to cut, choreography to be done, o and I really could use a nap!! Did I mention I only have two days a week in which I am child free? I have show and tells to prepare for, usually sourcing photos and getting printing done, not to mention ensuring schedules are gazed over. O, I think I should eat something before I pass out!

Before you know it it’s 2:30pm, and I push it to the last minute! School pickup time. The dreaded time of course. I live a close 5 mins drive from the school yet I don’t get home until 3:20pm! The park, the 8 mile hike again, the collection, the dawdling eldest child, the carpark lineup to depart school. I’m exhausted typing this! After school we have swimming, or daycare pickup, or I teach a dance class and have to take all three, or taekwondo, or dance class for the middle and on top of that homework!! The rocket words, the sight words, the testing of the alphabet, the dreaded readers, the library books, the prep for show and tell, the tracing, the covering, the spelling, if there were 48hrs in a day this might be a little bit more achievable!! I know I didn’t throw in dinner, but it’s in there, and so are their showers and teeth brushing and prayers and nana and great aunt in Bermuda serenading them again.

Than right on 7pm, like music to my ears, not a minute after and if it is ooooooo watch out, because it’s bedtime. I lie on the floor of the two youngest’s room and help them off to sleep. Not sure how my presence soothes them but it does. I stay for an hour most nights, unless I have something urgent to tend to. This time is precious, it goes from a lot of talking from the eldest to sheer silence from them all. Than hubby comes home, he and I have dinner and the television becomes our white noise.

I can hear my bed calling me! I heed its call. Sometimes I prep myself for a good ole movie in bed, instead it’s the usual social media digest and than my Rain Rain App to satisfy my sleep need. My head falls deep into the contours of my pillow. The sheets encompass me and I invite sleep in. Some nights one of the three sneak into bed with me, most nights I waken to use the loo #pregnancystruggles, but most nights I get much needed rest! I savour these moments as soon the sleep will be disturbed numerous times by a newborn who knows nothing about schedules or time. A newborn that has no understanding of day or night. A newborn that knows what it needs and only settles when these needs have been met.

So right now…right now I’m savouring the chaos! I savour the schedules, the pulling to and fro! The highs, the lows, and all the in betweens!! Soon we will be graced with a new leader and it’ll be the smallest one in the home!