Thoughts on Morning Routines

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Mornings are a bit of a circus around here. Maybe you can relate. My husband and I are both nurses and we alternate our shifts so that one of us can be home with our kids. Nursing shifts start early which means that one of us is generally flying solo with three kids in the morning. Trying to get the baby ready and the big kids out the door by 7:30 can be complicated so we’ve created some rhythms and routines to help minimize the chaos.

I hate the feeling of sending my kids out the door rushed and hurried - sometimes it’s straight up unavoidable. But sometimes just a few tweaks and shifts can make all the difference.

When our twins were three we started using these Okay To Wake clocks. Five years later they’re still an absolutely essential part of our morning. In order to keep the morning train on the tracks, I need about 20 minutes to get myself ready so I can be available for everyone else. My kids are early risers so they are allowed to play in their rooms any time after 6 a.m. but they can’t come out until 6:30. This gives me a chance to at least have coffee, brush my teeth and set up breakfast.

You can read about our smoothie recipe here. It is such a helpful and easy breakfast option. I pour them the night before so they’re ready to go. These are the best cups I’ve found to minimize leaks. We cut the valves out since the smoothies are thick and hard to drink otherwise. Since the kids get such dense nutrition in their smoothies, I just add a hard boiled egg or quick bowl of cereal and call breakfast done.

I often batch prepare many of the smoothie ingredients in order to make them easily for a month at a time (or more!) I often buy avocados and bananas in bulk (thanks Costco!) and freeze them on cookie sheets. They can then easily be transferred to bags and kept frozen.

Charts are huge around here. I love that they encourage the kids to be independent with their next steps. Once my big kids finish breakfast they can start working through their list of tasks. They love having some free time before school which is a helpful incentive for them to finish their jobs so they can play. You can print these morning routine charts here for free. I’ve also included our go-to evening chart.

I crash and burn early if I don’t get some protein in my system. Since I’m usually short on time but also want a healthy option, I’ve been drinking these shakes for years. I love that they’re delicious and keep me full until lunch. I mix them with almond milk, ice and a scoop of peanut butter (more tasty!) or almond butter (healthier option). I love having a quick, no mess option to keep me going. They’re gluten and dairy free and vegan if you are someone who is working with food restrictions. Watch for sales on Amazon, they go on sale often. I also will buy these large tubs at Costco which is a better price than Amazon unless it’s on sale.

I have the feeling that mornings won’t be smooth sailing around here for many years to come. I am guessing we are not alone in this! Here’s to hoping that these tools may help minimize the chaos even just a tiny bit. Good luck, mamas and papas! You got this!