I get up early. I shower. I wake her up. We eat breakfast. We do this every single day. So why do we fail at this one task: actually getting to the bus stop on time?

It shouldn’t be that hard, really. And yet it really is the hardest part of the day. Every morning.

Most weeks, we’re good: 5-for-5. Often its a squeaker.

Like last Thursday, when we caught the bus on its turn around and I made my daughter run like crazy.

Now, don’t think I’m the heartless one forcing her on the bus because I’m too lazy to drop her off. No. She loves the bus. She was going to be sad if we missed it. She is the one demanding a perfect record.

Last week we were 4-for-5. Not bad, but not up to our high standards. This week, we’re 0-for-3. A first certifiable slump this season. It’s like we can’t even make the routine plays like getting dressed properly and making a lunch. We’re fumbling at the most inopportune times. I forgot my keys! or I forgot to brush my teeth!

And lest we think there is only one culprit, a player that needs to be benched, I must sadly note that it is a team failure. We’re all screwing up. This isn’t only sleeping through alarms or a whining child who refuses to get dressed. This is even on the days in which we get up on time and are in great moods! Our slump can’t be explained away so easily.

I think the best way we can describe it is that we’re out of sync and we need to make some changes; shake things up a little bit. Go back to basics.

• Go to bed early.
• Wake up with enough time.
• Get our important tasks done before we play.

But most importantly, keep time for play. Keep it light. Make it fun. Don’t get too much in our heads.

We can still right this ship. We can finish strong. Then come out next week and shock the world.