Balancing Productivity With Flexibility In The Morning With My son

This morning, spending time with my son gave me valuable insight into how I can arrange my weekday morning routine in a more productive and beneficial way. Monday mornings tend to be a bit more hectic compared to midweek, as we all have to transition from relaxation mode to a more serious working mindset. My daughter always wakes up at 6:00 a.m., which pushes me to start my day early. After getting both of us ready, I took her to daycare.

Since my son went to bed late last night, I wanted to ensure he wasn’t sleep-deprived, so I allowed him to sleep a bit longer. As I stepped outside with my daughter, I was greeted by the gentle, bright sunlight that immediately energized me. The fresh morning air and sunshine made me feel rejuvenated and filled me with positivity. Immersing oneself in nature in the morning really sets a productive and energetic tone for the rest of the day. I felt alive, as though I could make the most of my day and accomplish everything I planned.

After dropping my daughter off at daycare, I returned home to find my son awake and eager to dive into his Lego blocks, which his father had organized the night before. We had bought a wide variety of Lego sets due to my son's deep interest in them. Although he had assembled many of them multiple times, most of the sets had been mixed up by my daughter. Two days ago, my son began asking for more Lego toys, which prompted my husband to meticulously organize the scattered pieces. It took him quite a while, but by the end of the day, he had sorted most of the Legos, despite a few missing pieces.

My son was thrilled to begin building again, but we had to ask him to go to bed because it was late. He agreed, on the condition that he could complete at least one Lego set before going to daycare in the morning. Sticking to our agreement, I couldn’t take him to daycare early, as I usually do, which left me with little personal time to prepare myself and attend my usual morning online English lesson before commuting to the office.

However, I didn’t want to break my streak of practicing English daily. Then, an idea struck me: why not take my English lesson while my son works on his Lego? This way, I could practice my English without interrupting his enjoyment, and I wouldn’t have to rush him to daycare. Plus, it would allow me to demonstrate to him the importance of consistent effort in learning, especially as I've been encouraging him to embrace English through his Saturday international preschool. I realized that by doing this, I was also modeling the behavior I wanted him to develop.

This approach not only allowed me to accomplish my own goals but also to support my son's interests. It felt like I had found the perfect balance—practicing my English, letting my son enjoy his Lego, and reinforcing the value of learning through personal example.

By reflecting on the morning's events, I came to a broader realization: may be the most effective way to educate children is through action. When they see us pursuing our passions with determination and resilience, they are more likely to internalize those values themselves.

Balancing productivity with flexibility is essential in parenting. Instead of rigidly adhering to routines, I found that adapting them in creative ways can lead to more fulfilling mornings. My son got to indulge in his favorite activity while I maintained my own self-improvement, all in the same shared space. This method was not only time-efficient but also emotionally fulfilling, as it allowed me to bond with my son while teaching him valuable life lessons. The beauty of mornings like this lies in their simplicity—they remind me that even the most routine moments can offer opportunities for growth, connection, and a positive start to the day.