Major To-Do: The First Thing on the To-Do List

"What do you do, even when you don't feel like it?"

I'm not sure why this question stumped me. It took talking with my mom to figure it out. It required remembering one of the hardest things I have to make my own kids do every day. It is the first thing to be done on every to-do list whether it is written down or not. Even Toad, one of my favorite storybook characters, knew this to be true.

Wake Up.

I know I don't always want to wake up. I try to convince the dogs to let me sleep a little longer. But, when the cat comes in, I know I have to get out of bed.

I suppose that it could be argued that it isn't just about waking up. I know at least one person in my household that can be awake and not get out of bed for hours. So, some sort of physical rising up is required in order for the day to move forward.

But, when I think about this phrase, I think of other ways I don't want to wake up.

I don't want to wake up with a bad attitude.

I don't want to wake up to bad news.

I don't want to wake up to a bad reality.

To quote Toad, I don't want to wake up and feel "Blah!"

I could. Some days I could pull the covers back over my head and ignore the world.

But, I do have two dogs and a cat. Pretty soon, my husband would wonder what's wrong with me because I'm not one to sleep too long. My boys--even the one who could stay in bed all day--might get concerned. My mom, who receives a call from me most mornings, would wonder for sure.

I would wonder, too. It's not like me to avoid waking up even when I'd like to shut out life. I could be like Toad.

“Come back and wake me up.....half past May!"

But, I would rather be like Frog.

“I am happy. I am very happy. This morning when I woke up I felt good because the sun was shining."