A Re-centered Morning - Part 1

Last night, I attended a lecture by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov. Here’s a take-home message I tried to apply this morning.

More often than not, my mornings are rushed as I shuffle my kids through the Modeh Anis, hair brushing, Brochos, boots and coats. I hurry to “see them off” so I could get on with my day.

This morning, however, I remembered how Rabbi Dubov glorified and exalted the role of a Jewish mother and her responsibility to the Chinuch and well-being of her family, and I tried to re-center myself around my true purpose.

Setting intention to this idea, I opened myself up to a new reality.

I am not getting my kids off to school. I am bringing them to school. I am not getting them out of my way. I am getting them ready to go to school where they will learn Torah and have opportunities to practice and improve their interpersonal Middos.

And I made an effort to verbalize my intentions to my kids as well. “Now is a special time when we get to go to school to learn Torah and practice using our Middos." I framed their perspective around this Heilige reality, giving true context to their time in school.

There is no rush to get to my day. My top priority is my children’s Chinuch, and schooling – and by extension, getting my children to school – is a very large part of my responsibility to their Chinuch.

Where am I rushing?

Hashem, please grant me this awareness tomorrow when I am about to rush off…

For "A Re-centered Morning - Part 2", click here.