Last week I gave you an insight into our mornings. They are chaotic to say the least. After putting a call out to my lovely Facebook mummies I’ve received some great tips on morning routines that will help us get out the door on time. I’ve also cruised around the internet and found some other interesting gems.
The aftermath of looking for something clean to wear!
Whilst my focus was on how to set up a routine for the kids, I realised a lot of the advice I found was aimed more at establishing your own morning routine. Typically I hadn’t even thought of myself. My morning routine goes something like:
- wake up and wonder if I have slept yet
- try and ignore the kids jumping on me
- finally get up and try not to faint from dizziness before I get my first drink of water
- try and remember what day it is
- if it is a Pilates day I drag my sorry self into my gear and get out the door before my body has the chance to renege (hardest thing to do – ever – especially in Winter)
I’m not quite ready to revamp my own morning routine just yet. For now, exhaustion reigns and there is little likelihood that I’ll “get up before your children, shower and dress to your shoes, do a load of laundry and slap on your makeup before hubby wakes”. I think I’ll write about this in a new section I will be starting called “Condition Report” where you can follow a more personal diary of my attempts to recover from adrenal fatigue.
So, back to this current challenge. How to get the CrashKids out the door in the morning!
My Crash Challenge
Buy a whiteboard and draw pictures of each task the CrashKids are responsible for in the morning.
I’ve gone for this option for now as it is the easiest and most manageable for me and my tired ways. If the CrashKids latch on then I might try making a more interesting chart with them. Some good examples I found are:
Planning with Kids Preschool Morning Routine
A great approach where you take photos of your kids doing each task and make them up a chart
Living Locurto’s Kid’s Morning Routine Cards
Beautiful free printable cards which you can download from this cool creative mum
Martha Stewarts Kids Job Chart
This is more generic and you have to make it yourself. The CrashKids love magnets so I might attempt this one.
The Organised Housewife Morning Routine Chart
If you really can’t be bothered, this super organised woman will personalise your chart and send it to you for $12.95(AUD)!
Get clothes ready and pack bags the AFTERNOON before
A lot of the advice I have come across suggests getting ready the night before. I’m pretty much cactus after dinner. Not much happens other than me nursing my iPad and trying to stay awake to enjoy some “quality” time with CrashHubby (and whatever big-fat-waste-of-time TV programme happens to be on). Hence, my commitment to get things ready in the afternoon – when I’m not quite as cactus-y.
Check my diary for the next day and organise stuff that needs to go out the door with me.
Again, I’ll probably do this in the afternoon when I’m getting the kids’ stuff ready. My plan is to put it where I have to trip over it to get out the door. This may or may not work. I can trip over a lot of stuff without even flinching – toys, unfolded washing, more toys, half-eaten apples.
So, wish me luck! I’ll be back on Friday to tell you how its going. Anyone want to join me on this one? Just write your list in the comments below and meet me back here on Friday!
Laney
Have you taken a look at my invention: On-Task On-Time for Kids at the above website? My mornings were unbearable with 5 year-old triplets. I tried the charts and timer path, but it wore off rather quickly. But, when I hooked up each task they were to complete with the passage of time, my kids had a ball getting ready for school and beating the timer. They used the system for years!
Interesting invention Moschel. Thanks for the info!
Love it! Hope the whiteboard works :-) I also get all the clothes, lunches and stuff (including hairbrush, hairties etc) ready the night before – saves soooooo much time. good luck!
The whiteboard worked this morning! Got the CrashKids to daycare half an hour earlier than usual. And there were no tears – not even from me!