A Secret for a good morning

Well, it's not really a secret. It's something a good number of my elders past down to me in particular my maternal grandparents. I would be a liar if I didn't say that mornings aren't tough. They are very tough especially when one has children and has to deal with a spouse who is not a morning person. Thankfully, Ma dukes groomed me into a morning person. She got me in the habit of getting up one hour earlier than required. It allowed me to enjoy what I love doing: reading. It also helped me get my materials for school together and brush up on any homework I rushed on. At 38 years young, I continue that wonderful habit even if I just got 4 hours of sleep the night before.

I have time to shower and shave and brush my gums which takes a good 30 minutes to complete. Then I get some reading and writing done. I also have a chance to just sit and think for a few minutes in complete silence. Then it's time to wake everyone up. Of course, I have fun doing that. I usually sing a song I made up to each child. I try to wait a few before I wake the wife up. Now that she works in the mornings, I really miss that. She looks great in the morning.

I usually take the youngest to school first since he has to be in at 7:30am (see? I am following in the tradition of Ma dukes). This is probably the best part of my day. I love his school. The secretary and the assistant secretary go out of their way to make me feel at home. So I am obligated to give them some small talk. Then I head to my youngest son's class. While there I joke with the classmates he had the year before. Then I might help the teachers get them into their morning routine of the describing the weather and telling us the day and date. Then I bounce out to talk to my son's teacher from last year. She is a former Black Panther Party member so we usually talk politics.

I usually hold the door open as I leave for these two elders. I know that there is a large handicap button that automatically opens the doors, but I love doing it for them. They are former educators for a total of 60 years between them and they still come in every morning to volunteer. It really warms my heart. I love greeting them and joking with them. They love to watch my son and I race to class. They always have nice things to say and crack the best jokes.

I also have the chance to interact with two other fathers. One who wears the best hats in the business. He usually arrives with his wife and daughter. It's good to see families moving like that. I also build with a dad who has a daughter in our old teacher's class. He usually walks his daughter to school from several blocks. If he catches up to us, his daughter and my son race to school giving me a chance to rest up!

I then jet back home to pick up the other two. Usually, my middle son asks a gang of philosophical questions along with my daughter who usually asks astronomy questions. I usually have to prepare the night before to attempt to answer these questions. It makes for great conversation. It's something I always wanted to do with my father. I go in with them to listen to their music teacher playing the guitar. He always takes requests. He can do everything from Bob Dylan to Duran Duran to Bob Marley and Ben Harper. Sometimes I bring my berimbau and we have a jam session. Well, I've done it twice and I need to do it some more.

My middle son doesn't want me to walk him to class so we part ways and I walk my daughter to class. I usually bug the boys in her class. They love to think they know it all. Then I head back downstairs to check on my middle son. I usually end up talking to his classmates to make sure they are behaving. Then I go check on the other classes I usually volunteer with. I spend about ten minutes greeting people with the teacher assigned to the front door. We usually make small talk with other parents about movies and upcoming events. Then I am off to work.

And yes I am so amped.