Welcome to Monday morning and “Coffee, Chaos, and the Question Every Mom Asks at Sunrise” David always gone way before 7 AM: and most of the time this is when the house wakes up before I do. I don’t even think Charlie or David knows what 7am is. Do you?
There is something about 7 AM in a real family home that feels like the opening scene of a sitcom — except nobody’s acting, nobody’s scripted, and nobody’s getting paid. The coffee pot is brewing as I walk through the kitchen dining room and living room to get a few steps in before the day begins. The coffee pot is empty waking for me to make coffee, the dogs are barking at absolutely nothing, and C was up gaming all night like he’s in the championship round of a tournament he invented.
I’m standing in the kitchen, hair in a ponytail that’s holding on for dear life, trying to figure out if my coffee is hot, cold, or emotionally confused. And before I even take my first sip, the question hits me as Gerald wanders into the kitchen already asking if the dish in the dishwasher is clean.
“Did I date myself today… or did I date my husband?”
It’s a question every mom asks, even if she never says it out loud. Because some mornings, the only adult time we get is with ourselves — five quiet minutes before the house realizes we’re awake. As Charlie prepares to live it’s going to get even harder to date myself as everything will fall on me. Or will it get easier because it will be just David and I as Gerald is glued to the couch David and I will be able to do things together without a crowd of people begging for our attention.
Today is one of those mornings.
Coffee Isn’t a Drink — It’s a Character
Coffee in this house has a personality. It comes and goes all day long like a friend who pops in to check on you but never stays long enough to help.
I pour a cup. I take a sip. Someone needs something. I set the cup down. It gets cold. I could microwave it but why bother to because I would forget it. I drink it cold and pour another cup. Then I pour a glass or Water and repeat until bedtime.
If Google ever asks what fuels this house, the answer is simple:
coffee, chaos, and kids who never stop moving.
C’s Morning: Gaming Like It’s a Full‑Time Job
C wakes up gaming. He games through breakfast. He games through lunch. He games through the afternoon. He games until he decides to go walking with B — which could be 10 AM, 10 PM, or midnight.
And honestly? I don’t fight it.
Because gaming is his world. His comfort. His ADHD‑friendly space where he can move, talk, think, and be himself without anyone telling him to sit still.
And yes — his gaming reviews are coming. Because if he’s going to spend 12 hours yelling at a screen, we might as well turn it into content which will begin this week.
David’s Morning: Work, Work, and More Work
David leaves early before the sun comes up while the Rooster is still sleeping. He works hard. He comes home tired. And from 5 to 7 PM, he takes over the kitchen, the cleaning, the cooking, the beer, the noise, the whole vibe.
But at 3 AM, he’s grabbing his keys, kissing the dogs, and heading out the door while I’m still trying to catch a few more winks before I have to figure out if my coffee is hot or cold.
Marriage isn’t always candlelit dinners and date nights. Sometimes it’s passing each other in the hallway with a “Love you, be safe,” and hoping you get five minutes together later.
My Morning: Work, Reviews, and the Never‑Ending List
By 7:30, I’m already working:
- Swagbucks
- Games
- Emails
- Reviews
- Walmart clothing comparison
- Weekend leftovers
- Planning the day
- Trying to keep the house from falling apart
And somewhere in the middle of all that, I’m trying to figure out if today is a “date myself” day or a “date my husband” day.
Right now? It’s looking like a date with my computer, but I am saving up for a laptop so I can take my work with me. David and Charlie Mother’s Day is coming and I would like the laptop above because its pink and matches my office.
The Theme of the Day: Did I Date Myself or Did I Date My Husband?
This theme runs through the whole day — from 7 AM coffee to 12–2 lunch to David’s 5–7 cooking/cleaning/beer time to my 8 PM my Teatime to C & B walking at midnight to the moment I finally crawl into bed.
Some days, the answer is obvious. Some days, it’s both. Some days, it’s neither — because life doesn’t always leave room for romance or self‑care.
But today? Today feels like a story unfolding.
And this is just the beginning.
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7 AM in this house isn’t quiet — its coffee, chaos, dogs barking at nothing, and C gaming like he’s getting paid. And before I even take my first sip, I’m already asking myself: Did I date myself today… or did I date my husband? Real life. Real family. Real mornings. #MomLife #FamilyLife #MorningChaos #RealLifeMom #TexasMom #DailySeries
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
