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Mom’s Breakfast Club: Perspective
This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.
As I shared last week, part of our new school routine involves me getting up… earlier. It’s been kind of difficult, and I’m not batting 1000 though I am breaking 500. I had just gotten so used to using our older son as an alarm clock. That doesn’t work when we all need to get out the door.
I’ve learned a few tricks to make sure our mornings go smoothly since we’ve been trying this Mommy Wakes Up Earlier thing. They’re not foolproof yet, but they’re really helping me. In fact, I wish I would have started doing these things a few years ago. Oh well, there’s always time to create a new habit!
- I have to go to bed on time, too. No fun. And sometimes I miss something I want to watch. But that’s what DVR is for.
- Starting the coffee as soon as my feet hit the floor is a must. By the time I have the computer turned on, bathroom rituals taken care of and found my robe, my coffee is done. I’d really like a coffee pot with a self-timer. Christmas present much?
- If I have a few minutes left before BigBrother wakes up, I like to read a bit of whatever book I’m reading. It just helps me feel calm and wakes up my brain. I’ve been getting a bit more reading done lately due to the added reading time!
- I eat my breakfast with BigBrother who gets up first. If I don’t, well, I forget to eat and experience a big blood sugar crash before I can get lunch on the table. This is really one of the highlights of my morning. We’re both either eating cereal or oatmeal, though I’ve mixed it up with bagel here and there. And we’re just talking over our bowls and my coffee cup. And it’s really, really nice.
- Making sure the kids’ clothes are laid out the night before. As simple as it sounds, it just makes it so much easier for me to keep on track and not rush in the morning. Less arguing always leads to a happier Mommy.
I won’t lie. Our mornings are not always perfect. There’s an argument at least once a morning. Someone can’t find their left shoe even though I laid it out. LittleBrother is still getting used to waking up earlier than he normally does. So the wheels can fall off in the morning. But trying to keep it all in perspective is what keeps me going.
What do you do in the morning to keep a good perspective? Do you make sure to have your coffee? A certain breakfast food? A certain timeline? Share your answer in a comment with me for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer and Kellogg’s. Be sure to visit the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for more chances to win, and don’t forget to read the official rules.
[Disclosure: Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.loveyourcereal.com.]
Morning is my favorite time of day. I rise early, full of creative energy, grab a cup of coffee and head out the door to enjoy the quiet, glad to be able to hear nature around me before the rest of the neighborhood comes to life.
I always make breakfast for my early riser son before he catches the bus for kindergarten.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
I have to eat by 9:30 am or I won’t be able to until noon and I have to have cream of wheat or muffin (love it) and I plan the kids menu around eggo waffles, oatmeal, poptart or cereal along with fruit during the week
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Coffee is a must!!! Even my kids know that.
I love to snuggle a little bit with them in my bed before getting up. It puts a smile on my face.
I have to finish one cup of coffee before even being barely functional. I’ve considered setting an alarm so I can wake up before the kids, but I have to get my 2-year-old out of my bed first.
I don’t drink coffee, but I must get up an hour earlier than the kids so that I’m not rushing around like a maniac.
I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t have that boost first thing. I just try get stuff sorted the night before [pack snack and backpack, clothes laid out] so that the morning isn’t a total slog. That helps me keep a good perspective.
A good day starts if I wake up a little bit earlier than everyone else. And…are you kidding…coffee…..a MUST!
I wake up thirty minutes early so I can have some time for myself before the kids wake up.
Twitter: FourAgainstTwo
says:
I wake up before most of the girls. I then shower and get ready for my day. I don’t let the kids out and about until 7:30 so my house isn’t destroyed before I leave my room.
Most mornings, I truly enjoy my morning shower. It’s a time of day that I know is alllllll mine. Well, except for the occasionaly knocking on the bathroom door by a 20 month old that should still be sleeping. I work outside of the house and my husband stays at home with our daughter, so mornings can be difficult if she wakes up. She does not like it when mommy leaves. Sometimes, I say “poo” to the shower and stay in bed, snuggling with both of my loves. This is well worth it on days that I’ll need all the strength I can get. For those days, the snuggle time is definitely the high point of my day and the memory of the feeling and scents of the snuggles keep me going.
I always shower and iron my clothes the night before. I also set out my cereal bowl and cereal or oatmeal and have the coffee set to be made when I get up. Then I have time at the computer to drink my coffee with my dogs at my feet. Love the early morning!!
http://twitter.com/fostertam/status/25251404085
I’m not human unless I have 15 minutes alone with a cold Diet Coke; I set my alarm 15 minutes before my daughter so I can let the dogs outside and have my “me time” before I rustle her out of bed.
I set my alarm half an hour earlier than I need to be up because I need a gradual wake-up before I’m able to get out of bed.
I am a morning person so I am up before anyone else and have my bowl of cereal in peace and quiet. I can look forward to each new day and the joys and challenges it will bring
I have two small boys, so there is no possible way to ENSURE that the day starts off on a positive note. Little boys are prone to be unreasonable about the silliest things (I didn’t want ketchup on my sandwich today, or a fight to brush their teeth). I try to stay on our tight schedule – not leaving much room for negotiation. Get them up and out the door quickly and efficiently. Avoid conflict. Never try to make any important decisions (like if a they can have a playdate this weekend) during our morning routine. Most important of all, we start with a kiss and hug!
A strong cup of coffee gets me going and, usually, puts me in a good mood to start the day.
I start off with prayer and then I have breakfast with my daughter and we chat about having great expectations for the day!
bleatham*at*gmail.com
I start by trying to be quiet in the morning to meditate!
kmassman gmail