Mornings can be tough for everyone and if you have little ones it could be extra challenging. In our case, I have to get three little ladies ready for school without forgetting about us adults.
For our family it is important for everyone to know what is expected of them. Therefore we can focus on getting everyone prepare and avoid any tantrums.
Here five tips to help you have a smooth start to your day:
- Prepare the night before – Try to leave as much organized ahead of time. For example, every school night our girls leave their backpacks ready and pick their clothing. For me, I leave everything set for my morning routine. Also, Moon Love Papa and I discuss next day’s schedule to give us an idea how our day will play and if we’ll need anything extra.
- Have some me-time – I wake up extra early to have a moment to connect with myself. I take an hour to work out and take a relaxing shower. This helps me set the mood for the rest of the day and gives me the energy necessary to tackle our busy morning routine. Take the time you need to fill your heart with happiness; it doesn’t matter if it’s five minutes or an hour. Make sure you start your day taking good care of yourself so that you can care for your love ones.
- Set the mood – I have created a playlist of our favorite happy songs and play it every morning. It gets everyone in a good mood! I love seeing the girls dance or sing to their favorite tunes as they get ready for school. If everyone is cheerful, things move along a lot smoother.
- Divide responsibilities – Everyone has a set to-do list every morning. In our household, the first adult to make it to the kitchen prepares breakfast and the second one concentrates on lunches and snacks. Our girls have their own list: breakfast, dress-up, teeth, shoes & catch bus. With this method everyone is organized and we avoid the craziness.
- Alarms – We have three alarms to keep us on track. The first one calls everyone to breakfast, the second one to wash and get dress, and lastly a reminder to catch the bus.
Our mornings weren’t always this organized. I remember them being crazy and me running around the house trying to get everyone out the door. It took trial and error to see what worked best for our family of five.
Also, our routine gives us some flexibility. There are times that girls sleep in a little or would rather stay home a bit longer to play, and we allow it as we have an extra half an hour if needed. After all, our schools are around the corner and a two minute drive will have everyone on time.
Happy mornings!