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.]
I’ve got my eating plans down pat. Glass of milk on the way to work. Cup of coffee. Maybe another cup coffee. And I can make it cleared headed and not hungry until 1p. Gotta have that coffee.
I try to do as much as possible the night before so that mornings are not as hectic.
The main thing is the timeline. I almost always get up at least 30 minutes, if not an hour before The Kids. I’ve done this for years because I realized that I really need time to wake up before hitting Mom Mode. Also, coffee is a must!
I always always always wake up and do a great big stretching of my back with arm raised in the air and if time permits I do a set of stretches for the rest of my body. I read somewhere that it’s good to get the blood flowing early
Plus stretching always feels good!
Also, when I need an extra boost I take a refreshing shower to start the day.. of course a good breakfast for energy.. cereal. .smoothie.. helps me deal with my morning commute to work better too!
I get up before everyone else. Having that quiet time helps my day start off well.
Taking the dog out and just walking around in the backyard is something that I love to do each morning. For the most part I am a morning person. I drink my (decaf) coffee most days. I eat my (peaches and cream) oatmeal almost everyday. But the constant is the dog in the backyard and watching the Today Show. I do love the idea of extra reading time in the morning.
I walk 2.5 miles, shower, eat a protein enriched breakfast.
http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/25355785199
coffee or i’m a bear!
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
i check my favorite sample blog for samples to sign up and if there are i’m happy lol.
songyueyu at gmail
i tweeted:http://twitter.com/syytta/status/25361357274
Coffee. That’s what I need.
evil_eva12 at hotmail dot com
I try to wake up even just five minutes earlier (even if it just means laying in bed for those), and I spend that time meditating and thinking positive thoughts about and goals for my day. Just those five minutes of “me” time… without the hustle and bustle of breakfast, backpacks, extracurricular stuff… gives me the motivation I need to start my day off right.
I like to start my day out with a protein packed breakfast of 1/2 c. cottage cheese, fruit and cereal. Then it’s off to the gym for me!
I make sure that I have my coffee, then I have breakfast a little bit after that.
To make my mornings go smoother, I pick up the night before. It’s much easier to get out of bed when you don’t have to look at last night’s mess around you. That, and my Diet Pepsi!
I try to give our family 15 minutes more to get ready in the morning than it should normally take. That helps cover last minute crises and keeps everyone more happy and relaxed, especially me. Yes, I do have to have my coffee (or tea) in the morning to be sane! Cereal and fruit are usually a mainstay for weekday breakfasts!
HobartsMama {AT} AOL.COM
I posted about this on my blog!
http://jennaiscorner.blogspot.com/p/kelloggs-moms-breakfast-club.html
HobartsMama {at} aol.com
Coffee is a must! And I have to wake up with plenty of time to spare, just so we don’t have to rush too much – that makes us all grumpy!
we start every morning with a hug, kiss, and a nice long stretch!