No doubt every single morning in our house you will hear atleast one child complaining about their school uniforms, socks are too tight, can't find their folder, a shoe is missing or something else along those lines.
Before we moved there was a pretty good plan in place to help mornings off to a good start. Now...not so much. We've been in the new house for a little over 3 months and it's still crazy every single day. Even Drew and I are still having a hard time finding things. I guess my organization skills are lacking now. Let's add that to the list...
I know that by having a solid plan in place it will cut down on these early morning complaint sessions but my procrastination has put a damper on anything I've come up with in my head. Our kids are night owls. They would much rather stay up late and sleep in than anything else offered. Even when they go to bed at a decent time it's still hard to get them to wake up in the mornings.
Once again I need to follow my own advice and get these morning going right again. A proper plan utilized daily will cut down on the morning bad-attitudes and increase happiness and great days!
Here are a few tips to help you get morning under control:
1. Start the night before.
- Get out everyone's clothes...from head down to toes. Either place near their beds or in a central location like the living room.
- Gather everything you/they will need for tomorrow. Make sure all folders are in backpacks and you know where your keys are. If your are running errands after dropping kids off at school, make sure you have everything by the door that you will need. (ex. shopping list, library books to return...)
2. Get everyone in bed at a decent time.
- Kids need around 10-12 hours of sleep at night to be fully rested for the next day. Adults need about 8 hours of sleep. Enough sleep is key to making mornings better for everyone!
3. Set your alarm clock atleast 30 minutes before the kids need to be up.
- Start your morning before everyone else with a few minutes of quiet time with the Lord. Have a nice cup of coffee/tea and have some time to gather yourself. Make sure you have enough time to get dressed as well.
4. Wake everyone with a calm voice and radiant smile.
- You, as the parent, set the tone for the day. You are also a model that your kids look up to. If they are woken up to harsh tones and rushed parents that will quickly make their moods spiral downwards. How you wake them up today could possibly be the way they wake their kids tomorrow...think about it.
5. Say a quick prayer with the kids to help them with their day.
- Kids need the Lord's guidance just as much as adults and there is no better way to start the day than with the Lord!
6. See that everyone gets dressed.
- Sometimes if I'm not watching the boys will get on the couch and go back to sleep without getting dressed. Just keep things flowing at a nice, easy pace.
7. Have breakfast together.
- This is probably the toughest thing we deal with in the morning. We often get rushed by not having our things together so we don't have time to eat breakfast together. That is such a missed opportunity on spending time with our family. Breakfast can be as simple or as elaborate as time allows...it's just the point of sitting down together even if it is just 5 minutes.
8. Gather your things and get by the door.
- After breakfast everyone brushes their teeth, gets their stuff and stands by the door. This lets me know that everyone is ready for the day!
9. Sing a song together.
- Nothing gets the kids laughing harder than me singing a song to/with them on the way to school. It shows them that I am in a good mood and can have fun and they should do the same! It just oozes silliness!
10. Send them off with love.
- If they will let you, give them a hug and kiss and be sure to tell them you love them and have a great day! The boys will tell me they love me but won't hug me in front of their friends. Sometimes growing up sucks...
I hope these tips can help you make happier, easier mornings for you and your family! If you have anything else to add please share!!
Ashley
This post is linked up at: Raising Mighty Arrows .
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