Some people have slow mornings. There’s a particular stillness that exists before the world wakes up, before notifications begin lining up on your phone, before the day starts making demands. They wake before everyone else, move quietly through the house, and savor that first cup of coffee as if it’s a small, private ritual.
I, on the other hand, do not have slow mornings, at least not at first. My version of a slow morning doesn’t begin until after Tommy and Kel leave for work. I do wake up before everyone else, but instead of easing into the day, I hit the ground running. My first cup of coffee is made quickly, almost automatically, as responsibilities immediately line up. I take the dogs out, make sure Tommy’s lunch and coffee are ready before he wakes, and try to get a few things done in the half hour I have to myself. I’m usually rushing, multitasking, gulping down my coffee rather than enjoying it.
Once they leave, everything shifts. That’s when my slow morning finally begins. The house grows quiet, and I can exhale. I ease into my routine instead of racing through it. I make my second, and usually last, cup of coffee for the day, this time with intention. Sitting at my computer, I sip slowly, letting the warmth settle in as I journal and reflect on what the day might hold. I make my to-do list, check my calendar, and mentally prepare for what’s ahead. In this moment, coffee becomes more than caffeine; it becomes a pause, a grounding ritual, a way to calm my nervous system before the house fills with noise again.
After I finish my coffee, I start studying. Alexis is usually the first one up, followed later by Karissa and then Alex. Gradually, the house comes to life. Conversations overlap, breakfast gets made, animals are fed, and the quiet dissolves into movement and sound. By then, my slow morning has done its job; I’ve had my stillness, just not in the way most people imagine it.
Tommy has his band’s holiday party tonight, so he and Kel will both be home late. It should be a fun night for them. On my end, we’re keeping dinner simple, we’re having tacos again, and I’ll be cooking up the rest of the taco meat so nothing goes to waste.
Then maybe I’ll watch some YouTube for a bit, or do something low-key. I might read as well. I still haven’t finished my book yet. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is starting to feel a little droning, but I do want to see it through. It’s just taking me much longer than I expected.
I have the worst luck with slippers. The sole of my right slipper just came off, and I only bought these a few months ago. Okay, maybe closer to four months, but that still feels pretty new to me. My slippers never seem to last very long, even though I’m actually pretty gentle with them. I don’t drag my feet or wear them outside too much. The most I’ve been outside with them is in the garage, yet they always give out way too soon. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if there’s a genuinely good slipper brand out there that’s made to last.
Kel wants Alex to take her dad’s truck to the dump to clean it out, and the girls are going with him to help. I don’t think Karissa was especially excited about going, but it was still really kind of her to pitch in and help out anyway. Alexis is helping as well, and she also needs a ride to Walmart to pick up her medication and a few other items.
It’s much later in the day now, and that’s one thing about this season, the light disappears so early. Some days I don’t mind it at all, and other days it feels a little heavy, like the evening arrives before I’m ready for it.
I’m going to start making dinner now. The girls like to eat early, so we’ll do that first, and then I’ll get Tommy’s lunch ready for tomorrow. After everything is settled, I might spend a little time playing Final Fantasy XIV, and then end the night by reading for a bit.
