A Day in Our Beautifully Imperfect Rhythm

Some days don’t begin with alarms, planners, or perfectly timed routines. Some days begin at 6:30 AM, with a rushed breakfast, a bit of forgetfulness, and a whole lot of love—and today was exactly that kind of day.

We woke up later than planned, which meant breakfast had to be quick. Scrambled eggs and overnight rice it was.

Why scrambled eggs? Because Aia wanted to crack eggs—specifically four eggs she had lovingly drawn the day before. And why overnight rice? Simply because I forgot to turn on the rice cooker after putting the rice in. Life happens.

Despite the slow start, Aia still made it to school on time, and honestly, that already felt like a small win for the day.

Before she left, I packed her snacks—an egg sandwich. Later, she told me she ate it with her classmate, Prince, who even shared his donut with her. I do love to listen to her stories of sharing her meals while making friends in school. Hearing that made my heart full. Knowing she’s making friends makes all the morning rush worthwhile.

There isn't a day that is meant to be very strictly followed, but the daily life with kids isn't necessarily routinary but a strcutured chaos. And that is just one of the things that I have to accept in my daily normal life.

Decluttering, Hunger, and Mango Float

By mid-morning, while waiting to eat around 10 AM, we turned our attention to what was supposed to be our creative/office room. Over time, it had quietly transformed into a temporary storage area for unsorted things.

Since we finally had some time, we decided to tackle it.

We started separating what needed to be discarded and what was worth saving. This is just one of the many things that we have to do in order to start organizing this space carefully. Surprisingly, the process was easier than expected. By the end of it, we had two full sacks of garbage—physical clutter gone, mental space gained.

Jesz was understandably starving after all that work, and thankfully it was already time to eat. We enjoyed what was left of our breakfast and indulged in one of the remaining servings of mango float. A simple meal, shared together, always feels special.

Midday Chaos and Small Wins

Cha began preparing lunch while we took turns showering and watching over the kids. Josh was happily exploring the floor, Nina was gaming on the phone, and the day felt like one long stretch of damage control—the kind where nothing extraordinary happens, but everything still matters.

Close to 11:30 AM, I helped my husband troubleshoot some connectivity issues. He had an online meeting at noon and needed to use the room we had just started clearing. That finally pushed us to set up our TP-Link Deco system, successfully extending the WiFi to the office area. Another small but meaningful win.

Josh provided comic relief by falling asleep while eating his lunch—still sitting upright. We eventually transferred him to his crib. Not long after, Aia came home from school, accompanied by Lolo Rics and Lola Lu, who left shortly after since she was already prepped for lunch.

Afternoon Play, Falls, and Coconut Treats

Later in the afternoon, Jesz brought home fresh coconut—both the juice and the fruit. I prepared chocolate spreads for Aia and Papa Jesz, and soon enough, we were outside playing “bika-tae” (hopscotch). Outdoor play benefits in a good way as to balance screen time with physical activity.

I acted as the referee since jumping wasn’t exactly an option for me. The main tournament was between Papa Jesz and Aia, while Nina zoomed around on her scooter and Josh did his own thing after a long walk with Cha.

Then came a fall—Nina tripped while running. Nothing serious, but enough tears to stop the games. We rushed her inside, cleaned her wounds, and called it a day for outdoor play.

Dinner, Minecraft, and a Peaceful Night

After some rest, I prepared dinner. The kids ate while playing Minecraft, and honestly, it worked. Instead of endless reminders and frustration, they happily finished every single spoonful. It took time, but we ended the meal with full bellies and good moods.

I prepped early for bed—around 6 PM—because accommodating the kids means adjusting my own rhythm. Josh was cleaned and put to bed early, too tired even for another episode of Blue’s Clues. He was already fast asleep by the time I finished.

My husband handled Aia and Nina’s bedtime routine, and when I came downstairs, both of them were already in their night clothes, ready to sleep.

A Thought Before Sleeping

As the night settled in, I realized how much structured play helps the kids—and us. Hopscotch tired Aia out just enough to make bedtime easy. That made me think: maybe it’s time to plan daily activities a week ahead.

It may sound tedious, but I believe it’s worth it.

Because in the middle of forgotten rice cookers, messy rooms, scraped knees, and sleepy hugs, these ordinary days are quietly shaping our family’s rhythm—and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.