I don’t know if your home, but you would think the missing Hour (Keys, Papers, and Letting Go of Perfect) would happen much earlier than 9:00 am in my home but it doesn’t that is where the morning tests everything.
You may be trying to leave—or finally start your day—and suddenly, nothing is where it should be. I’ve been up for hours and this is when chaos begins. Charlie is getting up and even thought I might have had Coffee he know wants Coffee.
Don’t forget the Pizza. The dogs need to go for a walk. Can you do it Charlie in a minute. If we wait the dogs may have a accident. I stop what I’ doing to take them out front. Back in to make Coffee. Now Gerald is also in the kitchen.
I can’t breath I need to work but first I have to put the Pizza on find the Coffee Creamer and Sugar. Start the dishwasher for Geral. Then I sit down to work and there goes the phone. David I need to finish this article but he wants to chat. LORD help me and Calgon take me aweay.
I hear Charlie say mom my wallet is missing. Where did you have it last. I don’t know. Pause Hardcastle and McCormick and up the stairs I go. Steps here I come nope, I forgot the fitbit and phone so steps aren’t tracked.
I check the same spot more than once, hoping Charlie’s wallet appears. No, it wouldn’t be on his bed for the hundreth time Charlie says and low and behold guess where it was. Backdownstairs to finish the article I began.
No, time to finish the show because David is on his way home now and I need to finish this artcle but the kitchen needs done. Kitchen can wait #momfail because work must come first or should it? Where is the drink I went to get 3 hours ago? No, clue and again no, water or steps. Oh, well this is life.
This is the moment where frustration builds fast—because it feels preventable. Like if things were more organized, this wouldn’t happen. Or would it because n, matter how many times we organize or home and plan things it gets changed. As you are now aware the Lord what have other plans which happens in my home more times than not. What about your home?
But this moment shows up in organized homes too. Because real life moves faster than systems. So instead of trying to fix everything at once, you change the goal. You stop aiming for “everything ready.”You aim for “we’re leaving anyway.”
That looks like:
- Grabbing spare keys which lord willing you have a set or two because we don’t have.
- making sure everyone has everything they need
- Accepting something may be forgotten but do not fear it can wait till tomorrow.
And that’s the part that matters. Because the longer you stay stuck trying to fix every missing piece, the heavier the moment becomes. Movement breaks that cycle. If you homeschool, this moment still shows up—just differently.
Books go missing. Assignments aren’t ready. Focus isn’t there.
And the same solution applies: You start anyway. Because progress doesn’t require everything to be in place. It requires starting.
This hour feels chaotic—but it’s short. And once you move through it, the day opens up again.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates .
