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Do You Have A Morning Routine That is Working?
January 25, 2010 2:27 PM
I hope you do and that you will share it with me, because I really need one! Seriously, though, is the morning not the most stressful time of day for moms? There are so many things to get done in such a short amount of time, from dressing the kids (or, if the kids are older, ensuring they are dressed appropriately), to making breakfast (or, if the kids are older, ensuring they have eaten something with nutritional value), to getting them all to school with the correct contents in their backpacks... all I can say is, thank goodness for extra-strong coffee.
Today's challenge involves setting up a routine for your morning. Mine is still a work in progress but it is going to look something like this:
7:30: Get up (yes I get up kind of late--that's because Larry takes my older kids to school at 7:00 am, so I don't have to get up early).
7:30-7:45: Get dressed and ready--I almost always work out first thing after my kids go to school, so getting ready is a quick process!
7:45: Make sure my 2 little guys, Matt (age 9) and Jamie (age 6), are awake, and that they are dressed for school. If not, get clothes out for them and force the issue.
7:50: Make breakfast. Matt usually eats on his own but Jamie almost always wants scrambled eggs and toast so this takes me a few minutes. I'll have my coffee and a quick bite to eat during this time.
8:00: Prepare the kids' lunches.
8:10: Pack up the backpacks.
8:20: Crunch time... make sure the kids have on their sneakers, put on coats/hats/gloves, get in the car and go by 8:25.
8:30: School starts.
How about you? If you have a morning routine, is it working for you? Please share!
- Nina
Technorati Tags: day planner, personal organizer
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Comments (6)
One thing that I have done in 2010 to help my morning run smoother (because I was going crazy in 2009) is to set my kids clothes out the night before. I also pack up their backpacks and prepare their lunches the night before. I even go as far as putting the coats next to their backpacks so everything they need in the am is in one spot. I just need to pull out their lunches and pt them in their backpacks.
Posted by: RPMom - January 25, 2010 3:03 PM
That is so smart. Usually I am so wiped out at night that I just want to go to bed, but taking these steps would save so much stress in the morning.
Posted by: momAgenda - January 25, 2010 3:05 PM
Even though my kids are still younger than school age, it is rather busy first thing in the morning. Before their night time bath I set out their clothes for the next day. As I am cleaning up after dinner I fill the coffee pot so it is ready to go first thing in the morning (VERY important!! haha). I wake about 20 mins before them and have a chance to get ready in peace, and possibly even have my first few sips of coffee in silence. Once they start school I will be getting lunches made while dinner is cooking the night before, and get their bags all set by the door. I find the key is to make it habit and routine - when you don't have to think about it then it's not a big deal! :)
Posted by: Anonymous - January 25, 2010 3:25 PM
I'm just amazed you can get up at 7:30 and have two kids at school in less than an hour. I get up at 5:00 most mornings and do wonders getting things done and us out of the house by 7:45.
Posted by: Anonymous - January 25, 2010 4:42 PM
Ahhh, strong coffee is the key to sucess for me to function properly in the mornings. We spend about 30 minutes each evening after dinner prepping for the nex day together as a family. We lay out clothes for school, have lunches packed and in the fridge. Have sippy cups full for next morning, and have backpacks, coats, hats, and shoes by the door - sometimes I go so far as to place the backpacks in the van the night before. I find the more prep work I do before the next day is beneficial! I wake up at 6am and shower and then the boys wake up at 7am, we eat brkfst get dressed, and we are off to school! For us it has to be structured and very routine for it to work!
Posted by: Anonymous - January 26, 2010 1:54 PM
I always get the kids clothes together as they are getting ready for bed the noght before. They brush their teeth, going to the bathroom, I'm laying out the stuff. Any requests of what to wear are made then or not at all. Oh and after homework is finished they are supposed to put it in the folder and in the bag right away. That's about all the prep that I do.
Posted by: jen - January 28, 2010 6:27 PM
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