In The Mind of A 5 Year Old

I have a confession to make, I have a housekeeper. She comes once every-other week and makes sure that my counters are clean and my floors are mopped and vacuumed at least, (and often only), that often.

Financially, I shouldn't have her. Realistically though, she saves me so much stress that I keep her on anyway. I am sane for 2 hours every-other Thursday until my kids get home.

Alexander, my five year old started Kindergarten three weeks ago. Since that week was a housekeeping week, he got home and she was still here. It was the sweetest thing watching him help her and her complement him on what a great job he was doing.

Two weeks passed and I didn't even remember that interaction but today is another housekeeping day.

But, let me rewind for a moment.

Our daily routine for the school kids is:

1. Pickup From School

2. Snack and put up backpacks

3. Chore

4. Homework (if any)

5. Games/Free Time

6. Pick up younger kids

Since Alexander just started kinder, he's migrated from being picked up about 6PM to being home at 3PM. With his recent ADHD diagnosis and his medication, about 4PM his medication wears off and he hits the ceiling. I'm talking about full blown fits with stomping and crying and winding up, etc.

Yesterday he was so badly behaved when being told to do his chores that my daily post morphed into an account of what he was doing that day. It's been like this pretty much every day after school. I ask for a chore and my child becomes a figurative monster. It's too "ha-ar-ar-ar-d" after all.

My 5 Year Old After His Meds Wear Off

Today after school though? He wants to help Ms. Linda, the housekeeper, work on the downstairs. The exact same downstairs he was supposed to help pick up two days ago but refused with an enormous fit until I went down to micro-mange him. Now all of the sudden he's a pro.

So tell me, what is the mind of a five year old? Most days, the spawn of a monster enhanced by screaming and sass... but today, he willingly picks up a mop and helps Ms. Linda like he's the best child on the planet. Now? He's done his actual chore after remarking about how easy it would be for him and he's playing quietly in my office.

Ms. Linda, lend me your magic, please.

-Kristian

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Hey Momma,

If we were sitting together over coffee, I’d tell you this: you need this. You need a day that’s about you—where you don’t have to be in charge, fix anything, or rush anywhere. Just show up, relax, and let me take care of everything. At Kristian Hutchings Portraits, I promise you’ll see yourself the way the people who love you most see you.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.