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Morning Routines that WorkBetter Mornings Through Planning and OrganizationHave your mornings gotten out of hand? Here's how to establish a routine that works for you and your family!
If there’s one thing working mommies and hausfraus share, it’s hectic mornings. There are children to be dressed, bags to be packed, and makeup to be applied. It never fails that this hectic time of day is the precise moment your children will lose their shoes, lose their mind, or spring the need for three dozen green cupcakes on you. But fear not; with a good attitude and a game plan, even the busiest mommy can turn the crazy into calm. Plan AheadLet’s face it: three minutes in the morning can be the difference between catching a bus and having to find time to drive your brood across town, while three minutes in the evening is a mere commercial break. Take advantage of this more relaxed time by packing all lunches and bags, laying out tomorrow’s clothing, and planning for breakfast. If even your evenings are booked, try laying out clothes and planning breakfasts during the weekend. Establish CheckpointsThis will prevent losing track of time and allow you to see when you are getting behind before you’re chasing the yellow bus down your street. Allot a reasonable amount of time for each task, and hold your kids accountable for meeting their deadline. For example, if your six year old needs to be in the car at 7:30 a.m., have her be out of bed at 6:30, dressed with teeth brushed at 6:45, and eating breakfast at 7:00. Remember to reward timeliness with extra privileges, for example pushing bedtime fifteen minutes later for every checkpoint met successfully. A Place for Everything The night before, stash those already packed backpacks in the car. Lunchboxes with perishable food can be left in the refrigerator, and shoes and jackets should have a home near the exit. By establishing a logical and permanent place for your family's supplies, you can reduce that last push to get out the door to merely grabbing a lunch and slipping on outerwear as your family marches to the minivan. Communicate Your Morning RoutineMake your game plan clear by calmly telling your children ahead of time what behavior and actions you expect in the morning. Be as specific as possible and focus on concrete actions such as “leave your shoes by the garage door” rather than vague orders like “keep track of your stuff.” Establish a time every evening when the family as a whole prepares for the next day, making lunches, packing bags, and giving Mom any pertinent paperwork such as field trip forms. While there is no magic morning fairy to help you pull seasonally decorated baked goods out of an empty refrigerator, these few strategies will get your family out the door almost every morning without yelling, nagging, or threats. With a little organization and forethought, there is no reason mornings can’t be a springboard for your productive day instead of a chaotic nightmare.
The copyright of the article Morning Routines that Work in Working Mothers is owned by Emily Marshall. Permission to republish Morning Routines that Work in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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