monkey with dora

You know that mom?  The one that you see dropping her kids off at 7:30 in the morning in her heels, pearls, matching cardigan and cami with her perfectly pressed slacks and flowing silken locks.  Her kids are dressed in the latest fashions, their hair perfectly groomed and even the youngest one not in school is impeccably dressed.

Yep, that’s not me.

I had visions of being that woman.  I was her for about two weeks of my daughter’s kindergarten year and then, well… then reality struck.  The newness of school wore off and while she still is excited to go to school each day and loves it passionately, she no longer bounds out of bed. Now she begrudgingly inches out from her slumber cocoon after I’ve tugged and pulled and cajoled for 10 or 15 minutes.

Once I have her out of bed, that’s when the fun starts, she wears a uniform so there aren’t many options but she has a definite style and if the right knee-highs or tights aren’t available to match her twinkle-toes, well… let’s just say, another 5 minutes can fly by on the wings of frustration.

While all this goes on, nobody (me) is getting dressed and nobody (us) is eating breakfast and somebody (me) realizes that it’s 7:35 and we need to leave in 5 minutes and the 3 year old is still tangled in his sheets wearing his spiderman underwear and possibly his cowboy boots.   I rush into my jeans and t-shirt, toss on some glasses, sling the blanket wrapped 3 year old into my arms and juggle my keys, purse and the 6 year old’s personality into my car and away we go.

As we pull down the driveway and the rumbling starts I realize it’s our collective stomachs and breakfast has been missed.

It was during one of those moments that I  realized that I needed a plan, something to make our mornings less crazy; so the kids and I sat down together and made a plan.

  • The 6 year old would pick out two possible outfits, socks, tights accessories every night and whichever one felt more like her when she woke up, that’s what she’d wear that day.
  • She got an alarm clock and wakes up with it every morning, this was a great win because it makes her feel more grown up and responsible and I can concentrate on getting the 3 year old out of bed.
  • Everyone starts going to bed 30 minutes earlier at night (win).
  • I would set out everyone’s toothbrushes and toothpaste the night before so they could pop into the bathroom, brush their teeth, wash their faces and be ready to go, no more rummaging through drawers (I see this one evolving into their responsibility as they get older).
  • We each say “Good Morning” or “I love you” first thing.  That just starts the day on the right tone.

I will follow you

This article about making mornings easier is part of the Kraft Bagel-fuls “Break up with your Breakfast Routine” sweepstakes.  Visit BlissfullyDomestic.com for all the fabulous details.

BlissTV- Morning Routines from Blissful Media Group on Vimeo.

I'm a deep-fried Southern belle, married to a cowboy boot wearin', Harley ridin’ Texan Prince Charming. I am the always proud and frequently exhausted mom to two 8th generation Texans My childhood was spent at my Granny's side learning to cook with cast iron, butter and that special southern ingredient -- love Today, I share my passion for food, family and photography with thousands of monthly readers on my blog, A Southern Fairytale. I love cute boots, my Canon camera, belly laughs with friends, the beach, my family and ellipses..."

31 Comments

  3. Great routine and nice changes. I’ve never understood why morning has to start so early. It would be so much more pleasant if we all had until about 10 am to get where we are going.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Syd! 🙂 NIce to see you 🙂

      I actually LOVE early mornings.. just not when I have to juggle two crazy kids who aren’t as much in love with getting up and getting going as I am 😉

      Reply

  4. Great routine ideas. Especially since you sat down with your kids and figured it out together.

    I especially love the two outfit idea.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Helena.

      My husband and I both think it’s really important to have our kids involved in decisions, especially if they directly involve them and I’ve found that my kids are much more likely to go along with decisions if they’ve had a say. 🙂
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..How To Make Green Eggs and Ham: A Video =-.

      Reply

    1. DAdgummit!!!

      Okay, well.. at least there’s something positive there.
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..How To Make Green Eggs and Ham: A Video =-.

      Reply

  7. The only difference when they get older is, you might just have one (like I do) who is like a drill sergeant. He gets up, showers and then wakes us all up. He doesn’t relent until everyone is up and on task. I don’t know what I’d do with out him! Oh, wait…I’d be late!
    ~kristin
    .-= LoveFeast Table´s most recent blog ..Bloggy Bootcamp in Baltimore =-.

    Reply

    1. I think I could totally get on board with a kid like that 😉 ;_)
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..How To Make Green Eggs and Ham: A Video =-.

      Reply

  8. My morning routine has gotten easier as they guys have gotten older however it has also gotten louder and much more likely to end in a fist fight so perhaps we should consider the “Good Morning, I love you” tip you mentioned…lol…maybe that will put the boys in a kinder, gentler frame of mind.
    .-= Qweenie´s most recent blog ..Fly, Fatass, fly! =-.

    Reply

    1. Let me know if it works 😉
      Two boys.. yep.. I think when you have multiple of the same sex.. it’s much more difficult.
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..How To Make Green Eggs and Ham: A Video =-.

      Reply

  9. Awesome! Where the hell were you when my kids were little??? 😉
    .-= Krissa´s most recent blog ..Who doo? Voo-doo. HENRIETTA DOO! =-.

    Reply

  11. I love that you let your kids pick out their clothes. I give Chloe a choice n what to wear and she is only 1! Ok, 14 months, but saying 1 just makes me feel better 😉

    I’m never going to be one of those moms, and I’m so glad you aren’t either!

    xoxo
    .-= Sara @TomTheGirl´s most recent blog ..Fun with water (bottle) =-.

    Reply

    1. Thanks! I”m trying to work with my kids and their personalities and needs instead of just dictating 🙂

      Yep, definitely not one of those moms 😉 LOL
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..Redesigning The Morning Routine =-.

      Reply

  12. My kids have lists….works on two of them. The third one…well I get to tell her 50 times before she does anything, I am so glad when school starts for the day!
    .-= Joyce´s most recent blog ..Big News, Little News and a Naughty Cat! =-.

    Reply

    1. LOL 😉 Thanks for sharing, Joyce 😉 It’s sooo nice to hear from other moms and to know that I’m not alone!
      .-= Rachel´s most recent blog ..Redesigning The Morning Routine =-.

      Reply

    1. No, you’re not a heels mom but, the beauty of us is that we are each our own person and we rock it!

      Good luck with that morning routine! You definitely want to work on it before kinder! (trust me) 🙂

      Reply

  14. We’re down to getting 4 (instead of 7) kids out the door on time, and it has gotten a little easier for us. Clothes picked out, including socks and jackets readily available (socks seem to be the big hold up in my family lol), lunches made the night before, backpacks already packed and ready-to-go is a must, and Special K cereal bars to eat when we don’t have time to sit down and eat at the table (pack cereal bars, trail mix in your vehicle, etc…so you have something to eat in a pinch.

    Love honest posts like this. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Lisa, you’re my hero! 🙂
      Socks are a KILLER, right? I swear it’s not a joke that there really is a sock monster! I just got a sign that has good hooks that now hangs by my front door and my daughter hangs her backpack from it at night after homework and that’s helping, too.

      Thank you for sharing and Thank YOU 🙂

      Reply

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