CityView Magazine

14 Januar y 2021 FAMILY MATTERS Split Ends and Laundry Bins BY CL AIRE MULLEN S elf-care. A concept that seems to me, a 35-year-old mother of two young children, to be a luxurious thing of the just-me past. Perhaps something to look forward to in the less chaotic future. But what self-care most certainly is not is something that I'm practicing and excelling at in the here and now. I do not li my head from a silk pillowcase (people who invest in the condition of their hair say those are optimal) before the sun rises and start my morning intentionally with a green drink and 30 minutes of meditation and stretching. Somewhere along the way, I read that parents should habitually wake before their children to allow time for early morning solitude and organized planning of the day ahead. Doesn't that sound just lovely? My wake-up routine goes a little more like this: I open one eye aer a distant and indistinguishable beeping stirs me from precious, interrupted sleep (I've already gotten up twice overnight to check for monsters and fetch a cup of water). e wide-open- refrigerator alarm is sounding, and my cow- licked 4-year-old is standing at my bedside, tapping a frozen Eggo on my forehead in perfect rhythm with his chant, "Mo-mmy- wake-up. Mo-mmy-wake-up." I finally relent and fall out of bed to help him with the toaster, tripping on discarded shoes and toys along the way. On the most unfortunate of marches to the coffee pot, a stray Lego will find the heel of my bare foot. I would guess that a self-care expert would say that tidying your home before bed every night will help you to begin each day on the right, unbruised foot. It would not be accurate to call anyone in my household a morning person, although it never fails that both children will make exceptions, but only on weekends. Most school days, I have approximately 45 minutes to rouse kiddos, make breakfast, comb hair, pack backpacks, review spelling words, feed the dog, and clothe bodies. In my case, an oversized hoodie thrown on over never-seen-a-day-of-yoga yoga pants is almost always the outfit du jour. It does not escape me that I lovingly spray leave-in conditioner on my daughter's freshly trimmed mane, brush it into a neat ponytail, and top it with a hairbow that coordinates with her starched school uniform while my own split- ended hair usually sits tied atop my head, slightly askew, in something that I can only compare to a nest that even the humblest of birds would be ashamed to call home. We are almost always running late, and I wonder if my neighbors judge me while I stand in the driveway barking orders, "Hurry! Get your lunchbox! Put on your coat!" On the drive to school, we listen to KidzBop and I realize that I le my to-go coffee on the counter. My mind dris to the idea of my husband's quiet, solo 15-minute commute to work. I wonder what podcast he listened to and exactly what temperature of hot his coffee was. As soon as I drop the kids at school, I face the demands of the day. Where to begin? ere's laundry. Piles upon piles of laundry. Mountains, really. Clean laundry in a basket on top of the dryer that's waited so long to be folded that it ought to be sent right back to Step 1. Folded laundry in another hamper on the stairs that just can't seem to make its way The CityView FOODIE MONDAY: Fayetteville's tastiest newslet- ter is here! For mouthwatering recipes and tantalizing food con- tent in your inbox every Monday, order up! TEX T FOODIE TO 22999 The Insider TUESDAY: Columnist Bill Kirby, Jr. reflects on people, places and life's lessons; editor Kim Hasty shares a weekly conversation starter. TEX T CITY VIEW TO 22999 THURSDAY: Your go-to spot for learning about the best events happening in our community this weekend and beyond! TEX T FAYLIST TO 22999 PRESSBOX The FRIDAY: Get the latest in local sports fea- tures and scores from award-win- ning sportswriter Earl Vaughan Jr., a member of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. TEX T PRESSBOX TO 22999 SUBSCRIBE TO CITYVIEW NEWSLETTERS Somewhere along the way, I read that parents should habitually wake before their children to allow time for early morning solitude and organized planning of the day ahead. Doesn't that sound just lovely?

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