I’ve recently discovered the secret to having a stress free and happy morning with my children. For those of you who are new to my blog, I have a 4 year old, an almost 3 year old and a 9 month old with a lot of needs in the morning. When I get out of bed in the morning, it’s typically because my kids have come down into my room begging for a cartoon or I’ve waited until the last possible minute to get up and then wake them up for school. I’m a night owl and working late and sleeping for as long as possible has always been my life routine. Well, I never thought I would say this but I’ve done a complete 180. When you are rushing around in the morning trying to beat the clock so that you can make coffee, look for school shoes, pack snacks, feed the baby, change diapers and make breakfast all at the same time it can get super stressful. That stress can then turn into barking orders and a bunch of whining.
Well, I can’t live that way anymore and I knew I had to make a change. I am on week 3 of getting up at 6am to workout and then starting off my day cool, calm and collected. I love going to my early morning workout class and having my ME time first thing. By the time I get home it’s 7:15 and the kids are still asleep. I have 30 minutes to prep breakfast, read a devotional and gather the last couple things the girls need for school. When I go upstairs to wake them up, breakfast is ready and it’s a relaxing environment with praise and worship music playing instead of cartoons. Not having cartoons on during school mornings is the second best thing I have ever done. Instead, we sit in the kitchen and talk and they fill their bellies up with homemade oatmeal…not the instant packets anymore. Now that they aren’t zoned out to cartoons, they listen and follow directions so much better. No more running around like a chicken with its head cut off and a racing heart saying hurry, hurry, hurry.
Five tips on how to have a stree free morning with kids:
- Get up before your kids.
- Get your workout in and/or your devotional first thing. (I’ve linked a short 1 page per day devotional below.)
- Lay out the kids clothes the night before and locate all school paraphernalia.
- Schedule your coffee to brew and know what you are making for breakfast. (one less thing you have to do in the morning)
- Play Praise and Worship music instead of cartoons. (I stream it on Pandora 😉
As for my outfit, I’m trying some of the workout gear from Forever 21. The prices are amazing and they are pretty comfy. I’m wearing a medium in my pullover and a small in the pants. I’ve linked some other pant options below too. I don’t know how well they will hold up after washing a ton…but I guess time will tell. My sister wears them often and she has no complaints so far!
