Mornings with kids and places to be often feel like pure chaos. There are so many moving parts! Kids need to be fed, dressed, and ready to go. Parents need the same—and let’s not forget about coffee! Getting out the door can sometimes feel like an impossible mission.
I’m no expert, but as a parent of four little ones, I’ve learned a few strategies that help me tackle mornings without losing my cool (or yelling at everyone). I hope these tips can make your mornings a little easier too!
- Ask yourself “what can I do tonight that will make my life easier tomorrow?”
- For me, this includes laying out outfits for everyone and myself.
- I might prep ahead breakfast options (muffins, banana bread, ect.) or at least have an idea of what I can serve.
- Have backpacks, water bottles and lunches ready to go.
- Wake up before the kids.
- This is something I definately want to prioritize again once my baby is sleeping a bit better! When I do wake up before my kids, it makes my mornings so much smoother. Turns out, waking up to being needed in the first awake moments of my day is hard!
- Morning checklist!
- Checklists help our kids so much in the morning. Our lists are simple and include: eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, shoes and socks on, etc. Honestly, this helps me too. I can could many times I have left the house without brushing my teeth while trying to get the kids where they need to be!
- I don’t let my kids do really any playing or drawing of any kind until all these tasks are complete – it makes me feel less frantic and yelly?!
- Start the day with some joy.
- Singing silly songs, dancing, playing together – these things help us find a moment of connection before we go our different ways for the day. I try to remind everyone how loved they are and how we can go out into the world and offer kindness wherever we go.
While these may not be ground breaking, they might help you maintain your composure in the midst of morning chaos.
What other tips or tricks help you get out the door without losing your mind?
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