“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine!” I say to my kids as I walk room to room to wake them up for school each morning around 6:45ish. I go to my oldest son, Tristan’s, room and he slowly creeps out of bed almost always with a smile. Then I get prepared to go to our daughter’s room, sweet Layla, to wake the sleeping princess/teenager (really only seven years old) from her slumber. Half of the time, she does not even wake and then the other times she slowly crawls out of bed wrapped up head to toe in a soft blanket of some sort and stumbles to the living room for breakfast and a show before school.

We proceed with our typical breakfast, lunch options…Then it is time to get dressed. Tristan goes and gets his clothes and does his thing. Then there is Layla; she stays in her room each morning after breakfast for at least 20 minutes doing God knows what, because she never comes out dressed in anything other than her pj’s. So, then the attitudes start to fly between the two of us. She likes to argue; she is a mini-me. She has issues with her clothes (shocking), cannot find her shoes, needs $50.25 for the school fundraiser. I get annoyed, then she gets upset, tears follow, and it’s all downhill from there. I start raising my voice, showing I am frustrated and by this time, totally annoyed. 

My point is, mornings around here, and many homes, can be rough. After I eventually get control of the chaos and hopefully the baby is still asleep, they proceed out the door for school, prepared to conquer the day. They look good, smell good, feel good, have their lunches, snacks, Pokemon cards, and whatever random thing Layla thinks is imperative to bring to school; they proceed to leave, give hugs, and kisses and I love you’s. Whoa, what a morning, I think to myself. Then as I wave goodbye to them, thinking about how cute they are, how I am so blessed by them, and all the good happy thoughts that I had forgotten about the last 30 minutes prior to them leaving. Then the mommy guilt comes raging in and here we go….again.

Most mornings, we encounter some hiccups but can recover before they walk out of the house. I know they are happy and feel loved, and that when they get to school, they are happy and worry free; but then there is me, and the mommy guilt kicks in overdrive. The guilt over how I could have done everything differently this morning. Even if the mornings are not all that bad, I still have that awful mommy guilt. After too many mornings experiencing this mommy guilt for the entire day until they arrive back home from school, I decided that I needed to fix something. The mornings were not a nightmare but I knew it could be better. For them I need to make it better. I am sure many moms can relate; we are not alone. The struggle is real.

So, after much thought about how we can make some changes for the overall morning vibes, I have come up with a few little ideas and advice that my family has started to do and it seems to work out much better. Even the kids were happy and noticed how the chaotic mornings are now calmer! It creates a sense of peace over the morning.

Your Morning Routine Makeover:

1) Pick out clothes the night before.
2) Pack lunches and snacks the night before and set in fridge.
3) Empty folders and get backpack prepared the night before.
4) Pick out breakfast idea the night before.
5) Get jacket, toy, project, shoes, and anything else that is random and most likely pointless, by their exit door.
6) Give MORE GRACE towards your children in the morning.

These are my family’s go-tos for our mornings; notice how all but one say: THE NIGHT BEFORE! I think the most important for all of us to remember is to give our children more GRACE in the morning. I heard this some time ago and when I did it really made me think twice. Do I extend grace to my children in the mornings? Do I wake them up and get them out the door like this is some military bootcamp? Do I do my best controlling my frustrations? The answers are no and yes.

I have not extended grace like I should have nor when I should have towards my children in the mornings. After much thought about this, I have changed the way I, myself, handle the mornings. Our children are not miniature adults. Our children, are just that, they are children. Giving grace is good for their heart and soul and it is good on my mommy heart and mind, which is probably the most important point of this morning routine makeover! The morning brings a new day, a fresh start, a new beginning. We want our children to wake up with a smile, a zest to conquer the day, a positive, excited outlook for whatever the day will bring. So, why not start their day off amazing, not perfect, but one filled with grace, patience, consistency, and respect. Then they can carry about their day being happy with their heads held high knowing they can take on the world.