My Kindergartner came home today a hot mess of feelings.
The energetic, up-beat little dude I sent to school this morning came home emotionally exhausted.

And by emotionally exhausted, I mean a blubbering mess of tears.

The way I drove the car from the bus stop was too windy.
His brother’s light-hearted jabs ensued in an immediate irrational meltdown.
The movie he wanted to watch wouldn’t play correctly.
He even said no to playing with his best friend, the 6-year-old girl who lives next door.
When he decided to give up, climb into my bed and take a nap, the covers wouldn’t come untucked and he got stuck.

It was most definitely a no-good, very bad day.
He was clearly worn out.

The overtired working mom in me instinctively wanted to tell him to chill out and stop overreacting. I had dinner to make, homework to do, clothes to wash, 3 kids with all the things that still needed to get done without having to deal with incessant whining.

But I stopped myself.
And I looked at my worn-down energetic, upbeat little dude with an open heart.

I asked him if he was OK.
He wasn’t.

In that moment…he was tired.
Mentally, physically, emotionally… all the ly’s.

He’s 5.
5 years old.
And he’s navigating this weird world even better than I am at 36.
Trying to always stay positive.
Trying to work through big emotions in such a little body.
Trying to find his smile.

So instead. I stopped what I was doing and I held him.
I let him cry until he was done.
I kissed his forehead and sang to him until he was ready to smile again.

Then we ordered Chick-fil-A to be delivered for dinner and had a mini photo-shoot.
Now his smile is back.

I asked him if he was OK.
He was.

Sometimes we all need a reminder to look past our initial frustration and overwhelm of the crying and whining and remember that our little ones get overwhelmed too.

And sometimes the best thing we can do is ask if they are OK.
I’m glad I did today.

Love & Hugs,
Nicki, Momming all the Boys