Being as yesterday was a holiday, we didn’t have school. I was relieved as that meant we’d have another calm, easy morning like Saturday and Sunday.
WRONG.
I was planning to go to the YMCA to work out. I’ve been super slack about working out since the new year started, but we worked out the last two days in a row and I was determined to stay on track.
We all got up at 8 (WOOHOO!), which gave us a solid two hours before we needed to leave for the Y. We had breakfast and I had time to sit with my coffee and read a few news articles. I got up to get dressed, yelled at the kids to get dressed and then….chaos.
We weren’t rushed, but then we were. I’m gently prodding the children to put on their shoes for the billionth time. They are talking and absent-mindedly wandering around. PUT YOUR DANG SHOES ON!
We finally got out the door and I heaved a huge sigh. Without fail, this is our morning routine.
At the beginning of the school year, I made some rules. You must have eaten breakfast, brushed your teeth and gotten dressed before you can watch a TV show. This worked for awhile…until it didn’t. Melt-downs started to happen when it was time to leave for school.
So now there’s not TV or tablets in the morning unless behavior has been exemplary. But that still hasn’t changed much. We’re still rushing out the door.
Maybe I need to plan things better so the kids don’t have time to play or dawdle. Maybe it needs to be that as soon as we’re dressed, we are walking out the door. I don’t know. I just know that something needs to be different.
I’m stressed out every morning and that is not a fun way to start my day.
What does your morning routine look like?
We’re about the same. No TV until everyone is dressed & teeth brush (I can fix hair while TV is on easier than not). Lately it’s been me setting a breakfast timer so they’ll eat in time to get dressed. Then putting on all the winter gear and then putting everything back on the 2 year old as she takes it off faster than I can put my own jacket on. We’re lucky to get out the door in time to walk the two blocks to Kindergarten and get there on time!