Good Morning Sunshine

How you handle your family's morning routine can make or break their day. Getting tweens and teens to school on time, fed and ready while you need to get ready for your day is a monumental task. Completing it and staying calm can seem impossible. Are manic mornings your norm? Everyone going in separate directions, things forgotten and no one with a smile on their face, running madly out the door toward the day ahead.
Here a re a few ideas that might make the morning routine easier, less stressful and much more pleasant.
 
Anything that can be prepared the night before, should be. If you’re offering cereal for breakfast, get the cereal, bowls and spoons out and on the counter. Check the weather, let everyone know what it will be and choose an appropriate outfit.Planning wardrobe the night before can save last minute panic in the morning.  Kids should have their backpacks packed and ready to go. Lunch money, homework,  pencils, etc. should all be ready the night before. Depending on your teen’s maturity level, check or have him/her check their weekly schedule. Does he/she have practice or band the next day? Get this stuff ready too. Being ready the night before will save the last minute scramble time that will frustrate your teen, possibly make him/her late and not set a good tone to start the new day.
While it may be harder for teens to go to bed at an early hour, you should strive to get them to sleep at least 8 hours nightly.  Everyone's day will be better if they got enough rest the night before.
Make time for breakfast.  It serves as a healthy way to start the day both physically and emotionally for the whole family. Talk to your family about what they would like to have for breakfast. Make this time quality family time. Mix the pancake batter the night before.  Precook bacon and recrisp in the microwave.  Peel and slice cantalope, freeze a batch of  blueberry muffins and take out what you need.  I have even poached eggs ahead of time and rewarmed the next morning.
Model a positive attitude about the upcoming day. The more you moan and groan about your boss and co-workers or the project your working on the more your children will learn to moan and groan about their teachers and their next math test. Life isn’t always peachy - that’s a fact - but having a positive attitude about doing things that aren’t easy is half the struggle. You can give your teen this lesson daily every morning, without the lecture, just by doing it.
Say things like, "I'm looking forward to finishing ____ today." Then ask your teen if there is anything he/she is looking forward to in the day ahead. Everyday conversations with your teen count toward keeping the lines of communication open.
here's a good one.  Get out of bed 15 minutes before the kids do. Start your morning routine or have a cup of coffee. Give yourself some quiet time before the rush of everyone else getting ready and needing your attention. This ‘me time’ does wonders for getting everyone in the family's day off to a good start.


Finally, finish your morning routine with a loving goodbye, complete with hug if your teen will let you. Here is a perfect time to strengthen your loving foundation and family bonds. Then, take a deep breath as you close the door.  Chrissie