“M-O-R-N-I-N-G spells morning!”

“M-O-R-N-I-N-G spells morning!”
“I love afternoon too,” said Grasshopper.
The beetles stopped singing and dancing.
“What did you say?” they asked.
“I said that I loved afternoon,” said Grasshopper.
All the beetles were quiet.
“And night is very nice,” said Grasshopper.
-excerpt from Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel

Have you ever read Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel? It is a charming little collection of stories. The first one, “The Club,” is about a group of beetles that Grasshopper encounters on his journey. They are all chanting about how much they love mornings and won’t tolerate anyone who believes that mornings are not best, or that all times are great, for that matter.

This seemingly simple tale is actually quite profound. It is about not only accepting others but about discovering one’s own personality quirks and preferences and being true to oneself – a gentle reminder even amidst the cacophony of differing opinions and perspectives.

“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
~Shakespeare, from Hamlet (act 1, scene 3)

Because my kids love this story so much, if they are sleeping super late, sometimes I’ll hop into their room, pretending to hold a sign and say cheerfully, “MORNING IS BEST! UP WITH MORNING! DOWN WITH EVENINGS!” This never fails to make them chuckle a little bit, even in underneath the cloud of heavy growth-spurt-sleepiness that sometimes befalls them.

Since they both love that book – and all of Lobel’s books! – that has become an inside joke with our family.

Books become part of your family’s personality – ironically even books about finding one’s personality.

Now, I say all this to the point that I am not a morning person at all. I’m a Night Owl and a card-carrying member of Down with Mornings Club, right there holding signs petitioning against the morning beetles on the road, if I’m honest with myself. Choosing to make mornings joyful is 100% a choice.

When the morning goes smoothly, you know what? The whole school day goes better! That’s just how it is. And, as the parent, I’m setting the vibe for the day. That’s my superpower!

You, as a parent, have that superpower, too! Try exercising it sometime!

Steps to Scatter Joy in the Mornings:

🧇Make an effort to prep breakfast for the kids the night before, especially if you’re a Night Owl like me and don’t cook as well upon first waking up… without lots of coffee.

🎵Make a special playlist of morning music to play that is soothing and peaceful.

🙂Smile at them when you see them rouse out of bed in the morning.

🤗Be sure to hug them and act glad to see them when they first wake up!

Even if your own warm blankets are calling you louder than the feelings of affection that you have right then are, you’ll start to feel better yourself.

Scatter Joy,

P.S. My kids have started calling any relaxing music that is New Age or borderline classical simply Morning Music! We’ve created a genre!

Need some ideas on starting your own warm, cozy Morning Music Playlist?

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