School is back in session, which means Paul is back at work. This also means the three of us are back to waking up in the 6am hour, and getting to work at 7am. Honestly, aside from the waking up while it’s still dark thing, I enjoy it. In the morning, I get my work done by 7:30 at the latest. After that, it’s time for Piper and I to take a walk.

If I’m feeling frivolous, I’ll pop down to Starbucks on our way out for a salted caramel hot chocolate (you guys need to try this, it is WONDERFUL).  Lately, the mornings have been damp and with a chill- not at all like the summer mornings I remember! Piper is in her stroller, with her blanket up to her chin, fingers in her mouth while I’m in a hoodie and trying to keep warm (and dry).

When we begin the walk things change for me. I’m not an employee taking the office distraction out to fall asleep so I can get some personal work done. No, I become one of them: the non-working moms. The mom who can take her baby out for a leisurely stroll and not have to be worried about time constraints . No, I blend in. Instead of people assuming I’m the nanny at our noontime walk, they think I’m the Mommy, which I am.

The residential neighborhood bordering my work is idyllic. Every house is different and gorgeous, and for that half hour every morning I can pretend I live in one of them. People getting into their cars to go to work nod their heads at me and say, “Good Morning!” To them, I’m just a neighbor out for a walk with her daughter. I try to become that, sniffing the roses as I walk past, imagining our house is the one with the little pushcar in the front for Piper to enjoy.

I nod back at the residents, silently complimenting houses for having a very neat front yard, or a funny bumper sticker. I glide along, already knowing where the uneven sidewalk hits, and coo at Piper while she begins to nod off.

Our favorite season is almost here, Fall. We started dating in the fall (both times), got engaged in the fall, and got married in the fall. My birthday falls on November 5th, and now our daughter’s birthday is in November as well. We spent many years at Disneyland enjoying the decorations Fall brings, as well as long walks with Woofie at Mar Vista Park, the leaves turning golden as they tend to do. We spend the month of October watching scary movies, and planning costumes. We buy apple cider and grab a blanket to cozy up on the couch with. There is pumpkin carving, and buying of candy- even though we never get trick or treaters. This year, there will be trick or treating for Piper- a new tradition.

The morning air smells like Fall, and it thrills me. I can’t wait to share our traditions and create new ones with our girl. Even if it means I have to pretend to have another life every morning in order to experience it when not at work.