🚨DISCLAIMER🚨 THESE ARE EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
One thing that i’ve always (I mean always) struggled with is mornings. I’m just not a morning person and I likely never will be; i’ve tried dozens of times to become one and I admit when I do wake up I actually enjoy them. With kids, that can be hard to do consistently! Here are five tips that have helped diminish the chaos in the morning, even when there’s lots of littles to get ready and places to be! And no— I don’t always follow these myself (I would be lying if I said I did because I’m human), though I do try!
Prepare the Night Before
Sounds like a no-brainer, but even when you’re exhausted and want to just veg on the couch at night, force yourself to take a few minutes of prep work. The evenings where I take the time to stock the daycare bags with the snow gear and nap blankets, double check forms for school, lay out the ingredients for breakfast, pack my work bag, and all the things, the morning following runs so much smoother! My kids are big into picking their outfits out after they get their PJs on so they aren’t searching their dressers in the dark the next morning. Then when I am running behind (because without fail we always do) it’s at least a few less things to worry about!
Wake Up Earlier
This one is the worst. I’m not going to lie. Like I said— i’m the anti-morning person. I’m the type where my kids have raided the pantry and dumped a Tupperware of cereal next to my bed on the floor kind of mom, so i’m not sitting here acting like I have it all together because I clearly don’t. That being said, when I am on my A-game it includes waking up at least an hour before my kids to. Then I have time to chug some coffee, make breakfast (or lay out the pre-breakfast morning snack if your kids are like mine and need twelve meals a day), and peel my eyes open before i’m knee-deep in changing poopy diapers or shooing kids on the bus!
Up Your Breakfast Game
I’m a big foodie, so when I have a yummy meal on my radar (no matter the time of day) things instantly get brighter. This is where that nightly prep can be key to simplifying this. We will stockpile homemade pancakes or waffles, breakfast burritos, pre-shred cheese and cut veggies for omelettes/scrambles, or pre-measuring oatmeal to make things a little more exciting than just cereal or a granola bar. If you don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast, prepping things like homemade French toast sticks or mini muffins can help for easy hand-held to go meals while you’re in the car or walking to the bus stop!
Keep a Routine
One thing that never fails to throw off a morning is when the schedule is jumbled. As a notoriously grumpy morning person (i’m nicknamed the Cobra in my family), I hate when I feel lost. Did the dogs go out yet? Did the dogs get fed? Who is making coffee? Is it my day for drop off?
Whatever your family calendar looks like, it can be easier to have things run smoothly if everyone is on the same page with morning expectations. For us, my husband usually is the first awake so he makes coffee, and lets the dogs out. Sometimes if the kids wake up he’ll have time to give them a morning snack. Then when I get up I know i’ve got to change the diapers, feed the dogs, etc etc.
If you know what to expect each morning, so do your kids and things will fall into place more easily!
Encourage & Support Independence
I know every family is different— but let’s look at the facts. When your kids are capable things are easier. This is obviously harder with younger kids and infants. Ask yourself if you’re setting your children up for success and assisting them be independent. There are so many tips to encourage independence, and I highly recommend taking a peek at the Montessori method if you haven’t already. There’s little hacks for kids putting on coats, serving themselves breakfast, cleaning up, etc. Making sure you’re doing your part to allow them to be independent is also huge— are the mittens and hats reachable? Can they access the cereal and milk to feed themselves? Are you jumping in to do everything and not allowing them to learn and do it themselves? I loved this book which is not only a beautiful read, but has great tips to encourage independence with your littles.
I’m sure those tips aren’t rocket science, I hope they help you and your family have a more productive morning!
xoxo, Kolleen